INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indianapolis Colts (8-9)
The Colts haven't reached the playoffs since the 2020 season and even before team owner Jim Irsay died in May, he made one thing clear to general manager Chris Ballard, coach Shane Steichen and Colts fans: The drought needs to end. Ballard responded by signing free agent quarterback Daniel Jones to compete with Anthony Richardson, Indy's first-round pick two years ago. Jones wound up being selected as the starter last week, making Richardson's future with the franchise unclear. Jones should have a solid supporting cast around him if one-time NFL rushing champ Jonathan Taylor and go-to receiver Michael Pittman Jr. stay healthy. Receiver Alec Pierce also led the NFL in yards per catch last season, Josh Downs also is a strong receiving option and rookie tight end Tyler Warren provides much improved versatility. But along the offensive line, Indy is replacing two starters and during the preseason and a joint practice against Green Bay, it looked like anything but the strength it's supposed to be. Defensively, the Colts could see major improvement with a new coordinator. Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and linebacker Zaire Franklin, the defending league tackles champ, both return as does defensive end Samson Ebukam, their sacks leader from 2023 who suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon last summer. They'll team up with Kwity Paye and last year's top draft pick Laiatu Latu to provide the pass rush. Ballard also added cornerback Charvarius Ward and safety Cam Bynum in free agency and more recently four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Xavien Howard because of injuries. But there are still questions at linebacker and the injuries in the secondary could wind up hurting their progression. Have they done enough to make a run at the playoffs? Ballard and Steichen are counting on it.
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Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren (84) makes a catch against Green Bay Packers cornerback Kamal Hadden (36) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, left, talks with Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen before an preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. throws during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) hands off to Jonathan Taylor (28) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
QB Daniel Jones, TE Tyler Warren, CB Charvarius Ward, CB Xavien Howard, S Cam Bynum, RB Kahlil Herbert, K Spencer Shrader, DT JT Tuimoloau, DT Neville Gallimore, defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.
C Ryan Kelly, OL Will Fries, LB E.J. Speed, S Julian Blackmon, K Matt Gay, LB Grant Stuard, DE Dayo Odeyingbo, TE Kylen Granson, OL Mark Glowinski, QB Joe Flacco, QB Sam Ehlinger, DC Gus Bradley.
Taylor is one of the league's most potent rushers and last season, he stayed mostly healthy. The result was his third 1,000-yard season. Warren's ability to run, block, catch or throw gives Indy the flexibility to try just about anything on offense. And three quarterbacks with running ability — Jones, Richardson and Riley Leonard — could help keep defenses off balance. But it's the receivers who could make the biggest jump. Pittman was hurt most of last season. And if Downs continues to be a solid option, Pierce proves last season was no fluke and Adonai Mitchell plays as well as he did at training camp, it could be the deepest position group on the team.
Until Jones — or Richardson — proves they can play winning football consistently, the quarterback questions will continue. The other big question is whether the defense will improve much off a poor 2024. It was so bad last season that defensive tackle DeForest Buckner called it the worst unit he's played on since arriving in Indy in 2020. That prompted coaching staff changes and a major offseason overhaul. Now the Colts are about to find out if they've improved the pass coverage or pass rush — or both — enough to become a playoff contender, especially in the depleted secondary.
The big story was the quarterback competition between Jones and Richardson. It was a critical call for Steichen. Indy had hoped Jones or Richardson would be a clear-cut choice. Instead, the competition was so close it took nearly the entire preseason to pick the starter. Jones will be Indy's eighth opening day starter in the past nine seasons.
Tyler Warren. Taylor and Pittman may be safer picks, but the rookie tight end might be the most intriguing. At camp, he showed he could make plays regardless of who threw the ball. And at Penn State, he also was used a short-yardage rusher and even, occasionally, threw a pass. With Steichen's creativity, Warren could be as fun to watch as he is capable of scoring fantasy points.
Win Super Bowl: 50-1.
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Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren (84) makes a catch against Green Bay Packers cornerback Kamal Hadden (36) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, left, talks with Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen before an preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. throws during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) hands off to Jonathan Taylor (28) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Houston (10-5) at Los Angeles Chargers (11-4)
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. EST, NFL Network
BetMGM NFL Odds: Chargers by 2
Against the spread: Texans 8-7, Chargers 9-6
Series record: Chargers lead 6-4.
Last meeting: Texans beat Chargers 32-12 in NFC wild-card game in Houston on Jan. 11.
Last week: Texans beat Raiders 23-21; Chargers beat Cowboys 34-17.
Texans offense: overall (19), rush (23), pass (16), scoring (19).
Texans defense: overall (1), rush (4), pass (4), scoring (1).
Chargers offense: overall (11), rush (6), pass (13), scoring (T-16).
Chargers defense: overall (3), rush (T-10), pass (6), scoring (8).
Turnover differential: Texans plus-15; Chargers plus-3.
CB Derek Stingley Jr. was selected as the AFC Defensive Player of the Week after returning an interception for his first career touchdown against the Raiders. He also forced a fumble and had a pass defensed in the win. The All-Pro is tied for the team lead with four interceptions and is the only player in the NFL to have at least four interceptions in each of the past three seasons. With Sunday’s performance, he became the first player in franchise history to have a forced fumble and an interception return for a touchdown in a game.
RB Omarion Hampton had 85 yards rushing and a touchdown on 16 carries against the Cowboys, his most productive showing in three games since returning from a broken ankle. The rookie first-round pick from North Carolina has 516 yards on the ground and four total touchdowns in eight games. The Chargers will need to maintain offensive balance against the outstanding Texans defense.
Texans DE Will Anderson Jr. vs. Chargers' offensive line. Improved pass protection kept QB Justin Herbert from being sacked in Dallas, which in turn allowed the offense to have one of its best performances of the season. However, the difference in quality between the Cowboys’ pass rush and what Anderson and company will bring is stark. Anderson has a career-high 11 1/2 sacks, and his 17 tackles for loss have been just as important in creating obvious passing downs. He has a tackle for loss in 10 of the past 11 games and all seven road games this season.
Texans: RB Woody Marks and LB Azeez Al-Shaair are set to return after missing last week’s game with injuries. … LT Aireontae Ersery is listed as questionable and could miss the game with a thumb injury. … RT Trent Brown (ankle/knee) will not play.
Chargers: LT Jamaree Salyer (hamstring), return specialist Derius Davis (ankle), CB Benjamin St-Juste (shoulder) and rookie S R.J. Mickens (shoulder) have all been ruled out. … DL Teair Tart (groin) and RG Mekhi Becton (knee) are questionable. The Chargers estimated Becton would have been a full participant if they had practiced Thursday, which bodes better for his availability.
The Chargers won the most recent meeting in the regular season, leaving Houston with a 34-24 triumph on Oct. 2, 2022. … The Texans are facing the Chargers at SoFi Stadium for the first time. They came up with a 27-20 victory in September 2019 in their only other trip to Los Angeles since the Chargers left San Diego in 2017.
The Texans can clinch a playoff berth with a win or tie, or a loss or tie by the Colts. … Houston’s seven-game winning streak is the longest active streak in the NFL and tied for the second longest in franchise history behind a nine-game winning streak in 2018. … DeMeco Ryans is the first head coach in franchise history to win 10 games in three consecutive seasons. … Houston’s defense leads the NFL in yards (272.3) and points (16.6) allowed. … QB C.J. Stroud has had at least 200 yards passing in five straight road games. … RB Nick Chubb had 42 yards of offense last week and had 170 yards of offense and a touchdown in his only career game against the Chargers in 2021 while with Cleveland. … WR Nico Collins had 59 yards receiving last week for his eighth straight game with at least 55 yards receiving. He had seven catches for 122 yards and a touchdown in a playoff win over the Chargers last season. … The Chargers have won 11 games in consecutive seasons for the third time in franchise history (1979-80, 2006-07). … Jim Harbaugh is one of eight NFL head coaches to have multiple 11-win seasons with two different organizations. … The Chargers defense has 13 takeaways (three fumbles, 10 interceptions) in its past six games after getting eight through its first nine games. … Justin Herbert threw for 300 yards and two touchdowns against the Cowboys, his third game this season with multiple touchdowns passes and no interceptions. … WR Ladd McConkey needs two receptions to pass Keenan Allen (148) for most in Chargers history through a player’s first two seasons. … OLB Tuli Tuipulotu got his 13th sack of the season versus the Cowboys. He can become the fifth player in Chargers history with 14 or more in a season (Khalil Mack, Shawne Merriman, Leslie O’Neal, Lee Williams). … S Derwin James Jr. needs one sack to become the third player in NFL history with 600 tackles, 20 sacks and 10 interceptions in his first 100 games (Roquan Smith, Karlos Dansby).
Facing two of the strongest rush defenses in the league, neither Omarion Hampton nor Woody Marks is likely to put up big numbers on the ground. Desperate fantasy owners with limited options will have to gamble that either tailback could make up for it as outlets in the passing game, as Marks was a tremendous receiver in college and Hampton has displayed good hands in his first season.
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Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh celebrates after a touchdown by Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton (8) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) runs during the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith, right, scrambles away from Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (51) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton (8) runs for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., left, returns an interception thrown by Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
