Jonathan Taylor may finally have found the running mate he’s sorely missed since Nyheim Hines and Marlon Mack before him.
Indianapolis, IN — Although Jonathan Taylor, one of the league’s best, is projected to put this new-look RB room on his back in both usage and subsequent production, there’s also a reality where this is the best room, from top to bottom, that the Colts have seen since Taylor was drafted.
The Colts’ offensive line goes into the season without two of their mainstay protectors in recent years in center Ryan Kelly and guard Will Fries, though their succession plan of interior OL Tanor Bortolini and Matt Goncalves provides enough optimism to believe there won’t be much of a drop-off, if at all, on the ground.
Led by DeAndre Smith, who enters his third season coaching the Colts’ running backs, let’s dive into what type of room he’ll be working with for the 2025-26 season.
Starter
Jonathan Taylor
Since his franchise record-breaking sophomore campaign in 2021, Jonathan Taylor has struggled to stay on the field for an entire season. Though some of that is due to his infamous contract hold-in back in 2023, the best ability is availability, and this, coupled with his various injuries in that time, has made it difficult for him to return to form. That is until last season.
At 26 years old and heading into his sixth season, Taylor remains the same player who set the league on fire just a few years prior. Garnering 1,431 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns in just 14 games played in 2024, it’s evident that the all-world talent is there for Indy’s disposal. Aside from his resurfaced ball-control issues, staying on-the-field remains Taylor’s biggest concern moving forward. Regardless of his play staying at the standard he previously set, understanding that Taylor averages 3.5 missed games per season is imperative to this room’s outlook overall.
Thankfully for Taylor, there’s a trio of fresh legs in Indy’s RB room prepared to alleviate his efforts. Not only that, but the Colts’ offensive scheme is centered around the run game, and in specific, that of the QB run game; therefore, Taylor should have enough opportunity and relief to ease his overall wear and tear over the course of the season.
Backups/Rotational
Khalil Herbert, DJ Giddens, Tyler Goodson
This trio of Herbert, Giddens, and Goodson has the potential to be one of the more intriguing camp battles. Vying for the team’s RB2 role, the door is wide open for whoever wants to take it. The battle is shaping up to be a two-man race between Herbert and Giddens, but don’t count Goodson out just yet.
Khalil Herbert and Tyler Goodson are the veterans among the three. Herbert’s role as the Chicago Bears RB2 in recent years suggests that he’ll have a leg up on the competition, especially when you consider the fact that the Colts went out and added both Herbert and Giddens due to previously inefficient play from then-duo in Tyler Goodson and Trey Sermon. Regardless of where he stands on the running back depth chart, Goodson is all but a lock to make the active roster given his special teams prowess.
As for the rookie DJ Giddens, the Colts are infatuated with his prospect profile. General manager Chris Ballard said to the media following their draft selection of Giddens. “We think he’s pretty talented,” Ballard said. “Remember [the draft] we took Marlon [Mack]? You know, you had Marlon Mack, who was excellent. Aaron Jones that year. It’s a very similar kind of draft where some guys kind of fell. Then it comes down to flavor. Like a lot of times, it’s flavor, like it really is, like ‘What do you want? What are you looking for?’ Look, I’m a big DJ fan. I think he’s a really talented young man and I think he’s got a chance to help us in a lot of different ways.” It’s clear the Colts have high hopes for Giddens’ future as a Colt, but how soon he gets the ball rolling is ultimately up to him.
Fringe Active Roster/Practice Squad
Ulysses Bentley IV, Salvon Ahmed
Both intriguing options at the bottom, Ulysses Bentley IV is an undrafted free agent from the 2025 NFL Draft Class, and Salvon Ahmed is a five-year veteran who has been on the Colts’ practice squad since last year. While both are somewhat long shots to make the active roster, these are two players who can set themselves up elsewhere, or for the future, with strong preseason showings. Showing up big as a pass protector, receiver, or even special teamer during this tryout phase of the preseason could prove fruitful.
