The 2025-26 Indianapolis Colts offense has been a shell of itself in recent weeks. After virtually never turning the ball over through the team’s first eight weeks, the turnover bug has struck Indy’s offense in a bad way. Not only that, but the unit’s otherwise seamless operation from the first half of the season has also since disappeared in the form of untimely penalties and a breakdown in pass protection. Despite these newfound kinks in their immortal armor, the Colts’ offense continues to produce yardage-wise.
The Colts have put up 887 total yards of offense in the past two weeks, but have also turned the ball over eight times. Regardless, Indianapolis is 1-1 during said stretch, with both being one-score games. So, while the sky is falling in regard to the offense’s efficiency, QB Daniel Jones and Co. are refusing to give up, and rookie TE Tyler Warren remains a massive factor in the solution.
Tyler Warren has showcased himself as a day-one NFL player since his debut. Few and far between are the prospects who are NFL-ready as soon as their name is called on draft night, and Warren has quickly proven to be no different.
Against the Falcons in Berlin, Germany, marked the third time this season that Tyler Warren has been the Colts’ leading receiver; the first coming in his second career game versus the Broncos, and his second versus the Cardinals a month later. Against Atlanta, Warren led the way with 8 receptions on 10 targets for 99 receiving yards (long of 24).
Of his 99 receiving yards, 69% (nice) came after the catch, which goes to show just how much of an inherent creator Warren is. Whether it’s his routine quick-hitters that he turns into first downs or the strategic screen calls that get him in space to allow him to go to work, head coach Shane Steichen is aware of what makes him so special, and we’re seeing that play out weekly.
Even though Tyler Warren is elite after the catch, no two receptions better represent his potential than his last receptions of the day against the Falcons: a gotta-have-it 4th and 2 call late in the 4th quarter that saw Daniel Jones find Warren on a quick out in the flats and a gutsy pitch-and-catch from Jones to Warren on 2nd and 9 during overtime.
Tyler Warren singlehandedly kept the game alive with a gnarly, contested grab on the aforementioned 4th and 2, where he imposed his will on the smaller defender to net the first down gain. Then, of course, in overtime, Warren gave us one of the most beautiful over-the-shoulder grabs in stride that put the Colts in field goal range, an attempt that was not needed thanks to Jonathan Taylor’s heroics on the ground.
Jonathan Taylor’s game-sealing TD rush capped off his fourth game this season, where he’s rushed for 3 touchdowns. In a moment that is and should be all about Taylor, I find myself marveling at Tyler Warren.
Lined up at fullback, Warren motions left pre-snap before crossing the pocket post-snap to seal the kickout block. Perhaps aided by a swift cut that only the likes of Taylor could make, but Warren’s ability as a blocker, paired with his selfless mindset, makes for a fun highlight reel no matter the week. It’s not solely his blocking between the tackles, either. Warren’s ability as a downfield blocker opens up potential elsewhere. So much for all of those analysts who swore up and down that his blocking wouldn’t translate.
The discourse surrounding Tyler Warren should not warrant additional questions, but answers. This is a rookie who showcases more veteran tendencies on a weekly basis than a lot of actual veterans with multiple years of professional experience under their belts. General manager Chris Ballard said after drafting Warren that, “The last time I felt that good about pulling a pick was Quenton [Nelson]. It was easy. There wasn’t a lot of discussion,” and so far through ten games, his gut feeling couldn’t ring more true.
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