Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen wants to run the ball. That’s no surprise. Every NFL coach wants to run the ball. Every college, high school, and pee-wee coach wants to run the ball. In two seasons under Steichen, Indy has indeed built a top ten rushing offense, but the coach is greedy. He wants more.
In Jonathan Taylor, he has one of the most explosive runners in the game. But it was painfully obvious last year that the Colts' top runner needs some help. Taylor was a workhorse, finishing fifth in the league in attempts and fourth in yards. He carried the ball more than 300 times. All other Colts’ backs combined for 88 carries and barely 300 yards. Taylor had more than 1,400.
Taylor cannot continue to carry such a heavy load. To that end, Colts GM Chris Ballard chose Kansas State’s dynamic DJ Giddens in the ’25 draft. He signed free agent Khalil Herbert from Chicago and scooped up Ulysses Bentley IV as an undrafted free agent. They have been competing for roster spots with returning backs Salvon Ahmed and Tyler Goodson, all looking to back up Taylor.
There is still competition between Indianapolis Colts running backs, but one spot is locked up
Tyler Goodson has to be on this team. It has absolutely nothing to do with his ability as a runner.
As a runner, Goodson has not shown very much. He has carried the ball 45 times in 22 games. He has looked OK but on Thursday, Bentley looked more decisive and Herbert found the end zone. It’s possible that those two will be competing for the third running back behind Taylor and Giddens.
But it’s possible that neither makes the team because Goodson will take a spot. To understand why, you just need to look at a few plays.
In the first half, Ravens’ rookie LaJohntay Wester returned a punt 87 yards for a touchdown. On the play, Colts’ cornerback Chris Lammons was lined up as left gunner. He was double-teamed on the line and wiped out of the play. He never made it downfield.
With no pressure coming from his right, Wester had time to make the initial defenders miss, and then the room to cut right into open field. Lammons was never a factor. He may not have been entirely responsible for the return, but his failure to get downfield was crucial.
Now check out the Colts’ punts in the second half. Goodson was the left gunner. He was consistently the first Colt downfield, often beating the ball and waiting on the return man. The results? On three punts, the Ravens called two fair catches and returned one punt for five yards. Tyler Goodson made the tackle.
That’s what Tyler Goodson does and he does it just about better than anyone in the league.
The Colts will not have Grant Stuard, Kylen Granson, and Trevor Denbow on the roster this season. That’s almost 750 special teams snaps from 2024 that are missing. Many of those snaps came on punt coverage units. There are some dangerous punt returners in the AFC South. Enough talent to turn a game or two.
Can a player make an NFL roster on the strength of his special teams play alone? Of course, if he performs as well as Goodson. Goodson is a decent runner as well, but he may not be the third-best on the team. If Shane Steichen feels like he needs Herbert or Bentley, so be it. But it should not come at the expense of Goodson.