Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Laquon Treadwell is already doing things through three games of 2026 that he hasn't done in years. That is how many passes he is catching, sure, but it is also when he is catching those passes: Late in games, in make-or-break moments. In Week 2, for instance, he caught a deep pass, fell, got up, fumbled -- only he didn't.
The play, unfortunately, did not come in an Indy victory. The team lost in overtime to the Kansas City Chiefs, but Treadwell did his best to help Indy steal the win. The play became so interesting because, after stunningly making an important play, he appeared to fumble, but instead was touched down by a defender.
Treadwell was less productive overall in Week 3 against the Houston Texans, but made another impact play at the end of the game. With the Colts driving to try to get within field goal range (at least) to give kicker Spencer Shrader a chance to win the game, Treadwell caught a 20-yard pass over the middle to get Indy into Houston territory.
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Laquon Treadwell learned a lot about himself in one week
The difference between the play in Week 2 and Week 3? Simple, according to Treadwell: "I just told myself, ‘Look, I’mma stay down this time. I am not getting up!'"
The wide receiver had learned well from his previous game's near-fiasco. He might have been an unsung hero in Week 2 had the Colts been able to win, but he also nearly became the worst kind of goat everyone was expecting with a fumble. In Week 3, he was taking no chances based on the week before.
Fans have stopped expecting much production from Laquon Treadwell after he was a first-round bust for the Minnesota Vikings in 2016. He spent four seasons with the NFC North team and never had more than 35 catches or 302 receiving yards in any season. Since he left Minnesota in 2019, Treadwell has played for five teams, but for the last three years with Indianapolis.
He has been a solid special teams contributor, but never productive as a wideout. Not until the first three games of this season, with star Alec Pierce either limited or completely out with a reinjured heel. In fact, he had never had a catch for the Indianapolis Colts in a real game until 2026.
Through three games this season, he has four catches on five targets, including catching all three of his targets in Week 2, for 81 yards. Will he continue to impress as a wideout? Who knows because there is no recent history of him doing so.
The team needs him to step up a bit, though. Alec Pierce won't be returning any time soon. But at his current pace, Treadwell is trending toward a career year with 34 catches and 459 yards. The last a career-best. No one should doubt he can reach those numbers at this point based on his early-season play.
Add us as a preferred source on Google