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PFF projects Indianapolis Colts’ starting offense for 2025 season

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PFF projects Indianapolis Colts’ starting offense for 2025 season



We have a long ways to go before decisions have to be made, but PFF has projected what the Colts’ starting offense will look like in 2025.

We have a long ways to go before roster decisions have to be made and starting lineups have to be constructed, but Pro Football Focus has taken an early swing at projecting who will be starting and playing key roles on offense for the Indianapolis Colts.

The quarterback competition will draw a lot of eyes during training camp and the preseason, but there is also playing time up for grabs along the offensive line and at the backup running back spot.

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Here is how Pro Football Focus sees things shaking out for the Colts.

Quarterback: Anthony Richardson

As Shane Steichen has described, Richardson and Daniel Jones will be splitting starting reps throughout the summer, and ultimately, it will be the most consistent of the two who wins the job.

For both the 2025 season and beyond, it’s clearly in the Colts’ best interest that Richardson takes control of the competition. As the younger, higher upside player, the ceiling for this Colts’ offense is greater with Richardson under center.

Steichen and Chris Ballard believe that the competition will elevate the play of both Richardson and Jones. While not an apples-to-apples comparison, after returning from being benched last season, we did see improved play from Richardson, which included leading two fourth-quarter comebacks.

A main focus for Richardson this offseason has been on his footwork, which is where accuracy begins at the quarterback position.

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Running back: Jonathan Taylor, Khalil Herbert

We know that Taylor will shoulder the workload at the running back spot, but the backup role is one where Ballard said the Colts need more production this season. So of note, PFF has Herbert listed as the backup over Day 3 draft pick DJ Giddens.

Herbert, who has been in the NFL since 2021, has experience on his side, while Giddens showcased his big-play abilities at Kansas State, which included averaging 6.5 yards per carry in 2024 and generating the 15th most rushes of 10 or more yards. However, like any first-year player, Giddens will be navigating the learning curve that comes with making the jump to the NFL level.

The Colts’ offense would also benefit greatly if one of Herbert or Giddens can carve out a role as a pass-catcher and add that element to Shane Steichen’s playbook, creating another dimension for defenses to contend with. This is an area where Giddens may have the upper hand.

On paper, there will be a backup running back, but I’m guessing right now that we’ll see both Herbert and Giddens this season, although how that playing time breaks down between the two remains to be seen.

Wide receiver: Michael Pittman, Josh Downs, Alec Pierce

No real surprises here. We will also see AD Mitchell in the mix, but a big part of the equation when it comes to him earning more opportunities is showcasing more consistency. However, with three well-established players on the depth chart ahead of him, along with the Colts now having Tyler Warren at tight end, they aren’t exactly hurting for snaps, especially with how little four wide receivers are utilized at one time in this offense.

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“That next step is like, alright, let me learn my role, let me focus on the things I can control and move from there,” said Reggie Wayne about Mitchell. “He’s backing up Alec right now. I mean, you can’t throw Alec away. Alec just had a great year. Just coming in understanding, and understanding your place, but when your number is called, let’s make sure we hit a home run and not just a base hit.”

Tight end: Tyler Warren

Again, no surprises here. The rookie will immediately step in and be a top option at this position. But we will still continue to see a fair amount of Mo Alie-Cox and Drew Ogletree as well. Two tight end sets were the Colts’ second-most utilized personnel grouping last season.

Offensive line: Bernhard Raimann, Quenton Nelson, Tanor Bortolini, Matt Goncalves, Braden Smith

I’m assuming that this is the configuration that everyone expects to see. Offensive line coach Tony Sparano Jr. has said that Bortolini is competing with Danny Pinter at center, and Goncalves is competing with the other guards on the roster–likely Dalton Tucker and Josh Sills–but the expectation is that Bortolini and Goncalves will win those jobs.



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Indianapolis, IN

Pike Township leaders plan to address issues with N Zone bar after weekend shootout

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Pike Township leaders plan to address issues with N Zone bar after weekend shootout


INDIANAPOLIS — A shootout at a troubled bar near 86th Street and Michigan Road sent two people to nearby St. Vincent Hospital early Sunday morning and has now prompted a review by IMPD’s Nuisance and Abatement Unit. 

Police were dispatched to N Zone Bar and Grill shortly before 2 a.m. after a security guard called 911 and reported the shootout between a man at the bar and a person in a car in the parking lot. 

Photo of the N Zone Bar and Grill in Indianapolis captured by a FOX59/CBS4 crew on April 13, 2026.

Later that morning, two different people walked into St. Vincent Hospital on the north side of Indianapolis with gunshot wounds. The victims who checked into the hospital Sunday morning are believed to have been involved in the shooting.

“No one is immune, things are going to jump off in different areas,” Pike Township Trustee Annette Johnson said. “But I would say (I’m) concern(ed).”

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That concern from Johnson stems from the fact that the bar has been the subject of several complaints from people who live in the area, including homeowners associations. Those people have been reporting a host of issues at the establishment. 

“Late-night fights, break-outs,” Johnson said. “To the left of that area, you have apartments that have been there in this community forever, and then you have a housing addition directly across the street.”

A neighboring business told FOX59/CBS4 they were not surprised to hear another incident had occurred given the bar’s past. 

Just recently, video circulated on social media of a large brawl between several women in the parking lot of the bar. Reports made by IMPD show numerous calls to the location in recent years for things like gun crimes and fights. 

In May 2022, a man was shot and critically wounded outside the bar. The establishment was shut down following that incident after officials discovered it did not have the proper permits. 

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Johnson said the fire department has been called to the bar at least 20 times since it opened, which she believes is a lot for a business like that. 

“If you have too many complaints, you know what happens with those types of situations where residents will complain,” Johnson said. “Zoning and making reports on that that go downtown, and sometimes, you’re served papers that you may not be a business anymore.”

Johnson said she doesn’t want to see that happen and hopes to intervene so things don’t reach that level with N Zone. She said her next step will be reaching out for a conversation with the bar’s owners to try and give some best practices for them moving forward. 

The facility appeared to be closed Sunday and Monday. 

Police have not publicly announced if they identified or detained any suspects or persons of interest during their investigation of Sunday morning’s shooting.

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IMPD said its nuisance and abatement team is aware of the location and working to determine if any enforcement action should be taken. 



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Indianapolis Colts Under Fire Following Daniel Jones Decision

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Indianapolis Colts Under Fire Following Daniel Jones Decision



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Daniel Jones #17 of the Indianapolis Colts in action against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on October 19, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

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The Indianapolis Colts entered the 2026 NFL offseason needing to make a decision about the future of quarterback Daniel Jones.

After signing Jones last offseason to a one-year deal in free agency, the Colts liked what they saw from him in 2025. Unfortunately, his season came to an end early after he went down with a torn Achilles.

Before suffering that injury, Jones played in 13 games. He completed 68 percent of his pass attempts for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions, while also running for 164 yards and five more touchdowns.

Jones was a free agent entering the offseason. Indianapolis moved quickly to lock him in. The Colts signed the veteran quarterback to a massive two-year, $88 million contract.

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Whether or not the move will pay off remains to be seen. It’s a big risk for Indianapolis, but Jones showed the potential of being a legitimate franchise quarterback before the injury occurred.


Colts Under Fire After Huge Daniel Jones Contract Decision

Chris Ballard and the Colts may be confident in Jones’ ability to be their starter moving forward. Not everyone agrees with the contract the team gave him.

Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport has named the move as one of the worst of the NFL offseason.

“Maybe Jones will be ready for Week 1 despite the severity of the injury. Maybe he can repeat last year’s success despite his struggles in New York. Maybe he’s the next Sam Darnold,” Davenport wrote.

“Or maybe the Colts should have let Jones play out the 2026 season on the transition tag while they saw how all those ‘maybes’ played out.”

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Last season, Jones faced a lot of doubt as well. After his rocky tenure with the New York Giants, no one could be blamed for having reservations about the quarterback. However, after the way he played in 2025, Indianapolis feels good about its decision.


Indianapolis Has Had a Wild NFL Offseason So Far

Outside of the Jones move, the Colts have been very busy this offseason.

Along with re-signing Jones, the team also brought back wide receiver Alec Pierce. In order to make that move happen, they had to pay out a four-year deal worth $114 million.

Plenty of other moves have been made as well. Indianapolis traded star linebacker Zaire Franklin to the Green Bay Packers and added pieces like defensive end Arden Key, defensive end Micheal Clemons, defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi, and cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt, among others.

Most recently, the Colts have been hit with a trade request from cornerback Kenny Moore.

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Only time will tell how the team’s offseason moves pan out. Indianapolis has taken some risk this offseason and still has holes to fill. However, the Colts looked like one of the best teams in the NFL during the first half of the 2025 season and may not be far off from Super Bowl contention.

Evan Massey Evan Massey is a sports reporter and analyst located in Indianapolis, Indiana who covers the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, and college sports. He has been featured on many publications, including Newsweek, Athlon Sports, ESPN, Yahoo! Sports, Forbes, Bleacher Report, Sporting News, and many others. In his free time, Evan enjoys spending time with his wife and son. More about Evan Massey





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Police: Argument over Pokémon cards sparks shooting at Indiana Kroger

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Police: Argument over Pokémon cards sparks shooting at Indiana Kroger


INDIANAPOLIS (WKRC) — Police are investigating after one person was injured in a shooting at an Indianapolis Kroger store, per WTHR.

Crews were called to the store at 680 Twin Aire Drive on the east side of the city around 7 p.m. Saturday. When they arrived, they found one man suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to the hospital, where he underwent surgery and is now in stable condition.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s preliminary investigation determined the shooting was targeted and started over an argument about Pokémon cards.

A person of interest was detained at the scene, but police say they are still working to confirm if they had any involvement in the shooting.

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