The Indianapolis Colts began Phase 1 of their offseason schedule with voluntary work on April 21st, right in the thick of draft week. This period focuses on meetings, strength training, and rehabilitation before the team ramps up its workload for the rest of the summer.

Veterans quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. and cornerback Kenny Moore II have been away from the team as they remain on the trade block.

While work thus far has not been open to the media, there will be plenty of opportunity moving forward to get a closer look at the younger, faster Colts.

Here’s a look at the key dates Colts faithful will want to circle on their calendars, along with the media’s scheduled access dates (subject to change at the team’s discretion).

Rookie Minicamp: May 8-9

The 2026 Colts’ draftees get their on-field debut in their team-issued apparel as they take the field alongside undrafted free agents and prospects invited to participate for a try-out.

Most notably, it’ll be interesting to see where the Colts’ first two draft selections — defenders CJ Allen and A.J. Haulcy — are being used in defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo’s scheme.

This two-day glorified oreientation of sorts will feature far less team-based activities than it will individual drills and general acclimation to the pros, but it’s still a worthy introduction nonetheless.

This padless, non-contact minicamp is meant to familiarize the amatuers more than it’s meant to baptize them by fire, and head coach Shane Steichen will be sure to deliver that message.

OTA Offseason Workouts: May 26-27, May 29, June 1-2, June 4

This is the third and final phase of the offseason program, the first portion of the offseason where the offense and defense can come together for some 11-on-11 work.

With quarterback Daniel Jones, wide receiver Alec Pierce, and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner all set to be sidelined until at least training camp as they rehab their respective injuries, their presence will be greatly missed as far as teambuilding goes. On the flip side, at least those Colts below them on the depth chart will get some valuable run in their time away.

The on-field work will still be a non-contact simulation, though this is the first time when the veterans and the rookies will come together for practice. These workouts are still voluntary for the vets; it won’t truly be a first full look at the projected 2026 roster together, but that comes not too long after OTAs conclude.

Mandatory Minicamp: June 9-11

This will be the biggest offseason event yet, as it will be the closest we get to a real Colts practice. Unlike OTAs, which are voluntary, this minicamp requires that all members of the team be in attendance.

These sessions are more or less like the beginning of the training camp cycle, a period that features a similar practice regimen while still being padless and non-contact.

This will give us a closer look at how rookies are adjusting to the next level after being a month in, as well as provide a sneak peek as to which on-field chemistries are brewing.

Sign Up For the Colts Daily Digest – OnSI’s Indianapolis Colts Newsletter

Advertisement

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow

The Indianapolis Colts are in a make-or-break season under longtime general manager Chris Ballard.

After exiting a season that featured yet another mid-season collapse, this regime is holding onto its last remaining breath of hope as it attempts to right the ship entirely. Colts Owner/CEO Carlie Irsay-Gordon said in her post-season press conference that the sense of urgency ‘has never been higher’ for Ballard and Shane Steichen, who is entering his fourth season as the Colts’ head coach.

As a result, this offseason has featured numerous high-floor, low-ceiling decisions for Indianapolis. In an attempt to replicate last year’s early-season success, Ballard’s Colts are once again ‘running it back,’ something that has yet to produce meaningful results in past years.

Ballard’s recent draft has been deemed by some a near-perfect outing considering their situation — not having a first-round pick to bolster their roster — but more than anything, it’s a showing that addressed the team’s weakest position rooms.

From immediate contributors to sleepers and depth pieces, Colts on SI breaks down each draftee’s projected 2026 role.

Immediate Starters

Georgia LB CJ Allen

After trading longtime starter and leader of the defense, linebacker Zaire Franklin, to the Green Bay Packers, Georgia’s CJ Allen will slide in seamlessly as his replacement for the future.

“We’ve liked CJ (Allen) through the whole process,” general manager Chris Ballard began fawning over his newest linebacker in his post-draft press conference. “He stands for all the right stuff. He’s an athletic, fast MIKE. He’ll be a green-dot guy for us from the get-go. I mean, he’s a face of the program type of guy. He’s a really special dude now.”

Still just 21-years old, Allen did not compete at the NFL Scouting Combine as he was rehabbing a knee injury suffered late in his final season at Georgia, but Ballard and Co. are confident in his progress and foresee no setbacks ahead of the season after he worked out a few weeks prior to the NFL Draft.

LSU S A.J. Haulcy

Although the Colts replaced Nick Cross with an aggregate of veteran safeties in free agency to compete for the opening at strong safety, rookie A.J. Haulcy has the inside track at winning the job this summer.

The SEC safety moved up in competition each step of the way (New Mexico, Houston, LSU), starting in 44 of 48 possible games. Haulcy is a ballhawk who logged eight interceptions over the past two seasons, but his versatility to play both in the box and back deep is what’s most intriguing about his game.

Sleepers

Kentucky G Jalen Farmer

The Colts may have confidence in their projected starting five (Raimann, Nelson, Bortolini, Goncalves, Travis), but insurance beyond them was nonexistent entering the NFL Draft.

Kentucky’s Jalen Farmer is set to provide depth across the entire offensive line, while likely being prioritized across the interior as a former guard. He makes the third consecutive installment of fourth-round offensive linemen drafted by Chris Ballard, who are subsequently thrust into the Tony Sparano Jr. school of hard knocks — aka, a recently-established draft-and-stash process that has produced two full-time starters who are still on their rookie contract.

Farmer is projected to immediately become the team’s swing offensive lineman, though don’t count him out from winning the right guard spot from Matt Goncalves.

Oregon LB Bryce Boettcher

Boettcher is set to be a special teams demon as a rookie, but his plus coverage ability bodes well in his favor as he joins a position room that lacks a specialist as such — they do have Jaylon Carlies set to return, who has flashed in coverage, though his early injury history makes it difficult to bet on him moving forward.

The Oregon linebacker should compete for the opening at WILL linebacker alongside veteran Akeem Davis-Gaither. Even if he ultimately loses the job, Boettcher presents a high-floor for a depth piece, and more than likely carves out a role as a sub-package coverage defender.

Kentucky RB Seth McGowan

McGowan had a troubled past early in his college career, causing him to climb back to earn consideration as an NFL prospect. He has since earned the opportunity to not only join an NFL roster but also to truly compete for touches as the Colts have an opening at backup running back under star feature back Jonathan Taylor.

Oklahoma WR Deion Burks

The Colts entered the 2026 NFL Draft with an opening at wide receiver alongside Alec Pierce and Josh Downs, despite adding Nick Westbrook-Ikhine earlier this offseason.

Deion Burks immediately strengthens the depth chart at wide receiver, serving as a potential steal after being selected with one of the last picks in the draft (254th overall). His small build (5’9″, 180 lbs) suggests that he’ll sit directly under Josh Downs for the foreseeable future, but his experience at outside receiver points to a potential rotational role as early as his rookie season.

Long-Term Bets

EDGE George Gumbs Jr.

Indianapolis has been lacking juice at defensive end for far too long, and though Gumbs Jr. doesn’t scream day-one contributor as a former wide receiver turned edge defender, his profile as a long-term project takes no convincing.

It was a bit of a headscratcher to see the Colts finally address edge during the fifth round, though their lack of depth outside of an opening up top needed addressing, and Gumbs Jr. provides just that.

EDGE Caden Curry

Similar to Gumbs Jr., Caden Curry doesn’t project as an immediate force, though he does present a bigger production profile (16.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks as a senior) that you can see him contributing in a rotational role as a rookie.

Curry may have historically small arms, a threshold that NFL decision-makers often stray away from, but his relentless motor is worth betting on despite his physical limitations.

Sign Up For the Colts Daily Digest – OnSI’s Indianapolis Colts Newsletter

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow