The Indianapolis Colts' 2026 season is quickly approaching, and training camp begins in full on July 29. Many of the team's starting spots are known, but many opportunities exist for players to make an impact in camp and put themselves in a position to get on the field quite a lot in the new season.
As Indy fans learned the harsh lesson in 2025 that health will likely affect whether the team makes the playoffs for the first time since 2020, depth matters. Last year, the team didn't have enough quality behind the starters. 2026 is looking a bit more promising.
Training camp will even feature a quarterback battle, though not for QB1, as that will be Daniel Jones. Who the backup is might not yet be known. Plus, a few rookies have a chance to make their mark in year one. A couple of them are among the players below who have a lot to gain with an outstanding camp.
These five Indianapolis Colts have a real chance to improve their status with a great training camp
Edge rusher Jaylahn Tuimoloau
After a terrible rookie season for the second-round pick in 2025 (he had zero sacks and one tackle for loss), the Colts absolutely need the Ohio State product to step up in 2026 and beyond. The overall edge rush group is weak, and only Laiatu Latu can be counted on for high-end production.
That leaves the door open for Tuimoloau to have a fantastic training camp and rapidly rise up the depth chart. Indianapolis signed veteran Arden Key, but if Tuimoloau looks like a different player than in 2025, he could be starting opposite Latu.
Quarterback Riley Leonard
Leonard obviously isn't going to be the starting quarterback in Indy, but he could be Daniel Jones' immediate backup. He will be in a battle with Anthony Richardson, but the second-year pro out of Notre Dame could have an advantage, as he has three seasons left on his contract. Richardson has one.
The quarterback played surprisingly well in Week 18 against the Houston Texans last season, showing off a strong arm and good mobility. He likely deserved a better chance to show what he can do last season, but the team signed Philip Rivers instead. With a good camp, Leonard might solidify his status as the Colts' long-term QB2.
Running back Seth McGowan
As with the quarterback position, the top of the running back depth chart is set and belongs to Jonathan Taylor. After Taylor, though, is a lot of unknown. Can DJ Giddens be greatly improved in his second season? The team hopes so, but if he fails, McGowan could get his chance.
The seventh-round pick might have gone higher except for some legal issues he had in college. He's got decent speed and power, however, and could be a decent option to spell Taylor at times. McGowan has to prove that not only in training camp, but in preseason games, too, however.
Kicker Blake Grupe
The Indianapolis Colts like their training camp kicker battles. Last year, the competition was won by Spencer Shrader, and he might have kept the job for a while except he hurt his knee against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 5 and missed the rest of the season. Indy eventually signed Grupe, who was terrific at the end of the season.
Grupe has the stronger leg of the two kickers, and he has more NFL experience, having played with the New Orleans Saints for several seasons before being released in 2025. The kicker job should be Grupe's to win, though, and he could steal a win or two during the season.
Linebacker Bryce Boettcher
Colts fans likely assume that rookie CJ Allen will start at one inside linebacker spot, but his partner in the duo could be open. Last season's starters, Zaire Franklin and Germaine Pratt, are gone, likely for good, and defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo will have two new options.
Boettcher was a fourth-round choice this year and proved in college at Oregon that he can tackle well while providing excellent pass coverage. That is something Indianapolis has lacked for several seasons, and if Boettcher can prove he can transpose his college success in that area to the pros, the Colts could have two rookie starters at off-ball linebacker.
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