Indianapolis Colts running back Tyler Goodson doesn't get as much attention as he may like - he is often overshadowed by Jonathan Taylor, one of the best running backs in the league. But Goodson, who will likely be RB2 this season, has been quietly capable behind him. He has stood out particularly on special teams, and this year, he is looking to make an even bigger splash.
And this time, he has something extra to prove.
In 2022, Goodson was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent and spent most of the year on the practice squad. He was briefly elevated to the active roster, but after signing a reserve/future contract in January of 2023, he was waived months later, in August.
Indianapolis Colts running back Tyler Goodson is out for revenge
He was quickly signed by the Colts, and being released by the Packers is an insult he evidently won't forget any time soon.
The Colts will be facing the Packers in their second preseason match, and Goodson will be starting. And he has one thing on his mind heading into the game: making the Packers regret their decision.
"Being able to go in there and just play on that field, that I was playing on once, is very surreal," he said. "But I'm looking forward to the competition. I had it marked on my calendar last year. I've got it marked on my calendar again. To me, it's nothing like playing against a team you played before. For me, it's a chance to go show them coaches like, yeah, maybe you should have kept me. You know what I mean? So it's kind of like a chip on the shoulder thing, but I'm going to go out there and have some fun and compete with those guys."
As of right now, it appears that Goodson is a lock for the final roster, with special teams coach Brian Mason speaking highly of his skills, with SI's Zach Hicks saying he is a "solid starting gunner, a valuable return man, and a really good coverage player."
Goodson is working his way into becoming a vital part of the Colts' roster, even if he isn't quite the same caliber as Taylor. And yet time and time again, Goodson has faced the possibility of seeing his NFL dreams dashed and has been able to claw his way back each time. That kind of resiliency means he isn't someone to count out - ever.
So far, Goodson hasn't proven he can be a reliable RB2 behind Jonathan Taylor - not enough that he can be a good replacement should Taylor be injured, anyway. But he has a lot to prove, too, and with a bit of revenge to motivate him, maybe he'll start proving the doubters wrong.