The Indianapolis Colts are ready for the 2026 season after trimming their roster to 53 players. Some moves were quite odd, such as releasing defensive tackle Colby Wooden, and other spots were earned.
Now, head coach Shane Steichen needs to turn the players he has into a winning group. Missing the playoffs once again would be unacceptable, as the team hasn't seen the postseason since 2020. The team does have some top-end talent that should help them get there, however.
The Colts begin their season on Sunday, September 13, against the Baltimore Ravens. Whether general manager Chris Ballard made correct roster decisions or not will show up immediately.
Winners and losers from the Indianapolis Colts' final 2026 roster cuts
Winner: Wide receiver Laquon Treadwell
How Treadwell manages to stick on the roster without actually doing much is a question many fans might be asking. He doesn't catch passes, and his special teams acumen is easily replaceable. Still, every season, he keeps playing in games.
The team could have kept Anthony Gould, who at least can return kicks and punts in a pinch and is just as good on special teams. Instead, Treadwell keeps getting paid despite being well past 30 years old and with no proof he can ever help offensively.
Loser: Running back Ulysses Bentley IV
Bentley had a better training camp than DJ Giddens and is the more versatile of the backs, but general manager Chris Ballard decided to go with Giddens again. The truth is that Giddens will probably be no more than an RB3 behind Jonathan Taylor and Seth McGowan.
As for McGowan, he was exceptionally good in training camp and the preseason. Hopefully, nothing happens to Taylor, of course, but if that does happen, Indy fans can rest well knowing that McGowan, and not Giddens, will be the true RB2.
Winner: The edge rush rookies
Both Caden Curry and George Gumbs Jr. stuck on the roster, and for good reason: Both were very good in camp and the preseason. Curry could even be further along than initially anticipated and see quite a few reps in the regular season immediately.
Gumbs is a bit more of a project, but he still flashed that he could help in limited reps. The odd part is that Chris Ballard hasn't been very good at selecting good edge rushers, and he might have found two gems late in the 2026 draft.
Loser: Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo
Anarumo's job is likely tied to that of Shane Steichen and Ballard, and should the team underperform yet again in 2026, Anarumo might be out of a job, too. He can only do so with what Ballard gives him on the roster, however, and the depth is once again thin.
Last year, Indianapolis fans had a rollercoaster of a season in which the team started 7-1, but partly due to injuries, the Colts sank and missed the playoffs. It was hard to get a real reading on how good Anarumo will be in Indianapolis with so many injuries, and the same could happen this year if a few key starters get hurt.
Winner: Kicker Spencer Shrader
Shrader might have been the biggest winner of all the people on the roster. He had a head-to-head battle with Blake Grupe all training camp and the preseason. Shrader also appeared to be trailing in the competition heading into the preseason when he became a star.
He made two field goals of 60 yards or more in the three meaningless games, and now he just needs to carry that momentum into the regular season. If he does that, Shrader won't just cement himself as the long-term kicker, but could be a Pro Bowler.
Loser: Linebacker CJ Allen
After being the Indianapolis Colts' first pick in this year's draft (he was chosen in the second round, as the team didn't have one due to the trade with the New York Jets that gave Indy Sauce Gardner), Allen was hoped to be the first rookie to be the green dot in Anarumo's defense. Instead, he didn't play well enough in the preseason to even be a sure starter.
That the team kept six inside linebackers shows just how uncertain it is that any of the players are definite starters. Allen likely will be one in Week 1, but if he falters, he could be quickly replaced.
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