When the Indianapolis Colts drafted tight end Tyler Warren in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the team had high expectations for the former Penn State star. Now, six months later, Warren has somehow exceeded those expectations and has already emerged as one of the league’s best at his position.
Warren has become a key weapon for head coach Shane Steichen and quarterback Daniel Jones. Indianapolis needs Warren to continue his strong play if they want to keep the offense humming for the rest of the season.
In Week 7, Warren’s hot hand will face the NFL’s premier tight end stopper —the Los Angeles Chargers' stud safety Derwin James. The game is set to be a classic example of when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object.
Colts’ Tyler Warren vs. Chargers’ Derwin James is a must-watch matchup
The Colts own the league’s highest-scoring offense, which is a massive improvement after being the 16th-best last year. The arrival of Jones has worked wonders, of course, but Warren has also been an instrumental addition.
Warren is the team’s leading pass catcher with 29 receptions off 40 targets, outpacing No. 1 wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and the rest of the team's talented receiving corps. That production is even more impressive when you factor in that no Indianapolis tight end caught more than 14 passes across the entire 2024 season.
Through the first six weeks of the year, Warren also leads all tight ends with 370 receiving yards, 198 of which were after the catch. Clearly, the rookie is proving that he is just as good as any seasoned veteran.
That being said, Warren will have to take his game to another level in Los Angeles. The Chargers boast a rock-solid defense that is particularly effective at guarding the tight end position. Opposing tight ends have combined for just 196 receiving yards against Los Angeles — fifth-fewest in the league.
The not-so-well-kept secret behind the Chargers’ success is two-time first-team All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowl safety Derwin James. One of the versatile defensive star’s many roles is to match up with tight ends one-on-one. And more often than not, James wins that battle. When targeted this season, he has only allowed 13 catches for 87 total yards.
Just take a look at how standout tight ends have fared against Los Angeles so far this year. Travis Kelce (47 receiving yards), Brock Bowers (38), Zach Ertz (0), and Darren Waller (12) were all bottled up when they played the Chargers. James is the biggest reason why.
In Week 7, Warren will once again rely on his rare blend of size, athleticism, and toughness to be a playmaker and yards-after-catch monster. However, this time around, he will have to get past the fast and physical James, who happens to be elite in both coverage and tackling. The winner of this duel could tilt the game in their team’s favor.