Colts 2025 team report cards: A deep dive into who on the teams roster has shined and who has disappointed during their 5-1 start
A deep dive into who on the Colts roster has impressed and who has disappointed through the first six weeks of the season
What a year it has already been for the Indianapolis Colts. The team sits atop the AFC South and the AFC with a league-best 5-1 record. Indianapolis is off to the best start the franchise has had in over a decade, and the locker room, coaches, and fanbase all seem bought in on this being a special season.
To recap the year so far, we’ve decided to hand out some awards, good and bad, across the roster. Whose strong play has helped the team get off to this hot start, and who has not been doing their part? It’s time to hand out some report cards for the Colts after the season’s first six weeks.
Offensive superlatives
MVP: Jonathan Taylor, RB
Jonathan Taylor has not only been the best RB in the league in 2025 so far, but he’s been one of the best players in the league. Taylor leads the NFL with 603 rushing yards and is 127 yards ahead of Dallas Cowboys RB Javonte Williams, who has the second most with 476 yards. He also leads the league in total touchdowns with eight, two more than multiple players tied for second with six.
Without a doubt, Taylor has been the Colts’ MVP, and he honestly had a solid argument to be the NFL MVP through the first six weeks. Sadly, that award has become “who is the best QB of the year” award, so Taylor will most likely be competing for the Offensive Player of the Year award instead. An award Taylor should be the frontrunner for as of now.
Glue guy: Michael Pittman Jr., WR
The glue guy award is going to the Colts’ longest tenured WR, Michael Pittman Jr. Pittman suffered the worst year of his career in 2024 after he played through a major back injury for most of the season. He’s bounced back this season nicely, though, leading the team with four receiving touchdowns and is second on the team with 293 receiving yards and 28 receptions.
He’s been a consistent contributor for most of the year, and even in games where the stats may not say that, he’s made very impactful plays in all six games.
Biggest surprise: Daniel Jones, QB
One of the easiest awards to hand out here was QB Daniel Jones as the Colts’ biggest surprise through the season’s first six weeks. When the Colts named Jones their Week 1 starter, it caught a lot of people by surprise (myself included). Jones has been viewed as a laughingstock in the NFL over the last few seasons with the New York Giants. But now who’s the one laughing? Jones himself.
Jones is seventh in passing yards with 1,502 yards and is tied for the third most total touchdowns. He is also having this level of success without also turning the ball over at a high rate, like in years past. He’s thrown only three interceptions through six weeks and has yet to lose a fumble. What’s been even more impressive is how he’s responded after throwing an interception this season. In years past, after a mistake, Jones would spiral. This season, he’s put the mistake in the past and continued to lead one of the league’s best offenses.
Biggest disappointment: Adonai Mitchell, WR
I don’t know if any player on the Colts’ roster generated more buzz with their play in training camp than WR Adobai Mitchell. He was regularly making jaw-dropping plays and looked prime for a breakout season.
Instead, he had two major mistakes take 14 points off the board in the team’s only loss of the year. He has since been demoted on the depth chart and was even a healthy scratch in Week 6.
Turning point of the last six weeks: The offense looking elite against the Broncos’ defense in Week 2
The Colts’ offense, being one of the best in the NFL, has shocked just about the entire league to start the year. Their first win came against an uninspiring Miami Dolphins defense, but everyone knew a bigger test awaited them in Week 2 against the Denver Broncos.
The Colts scored their season low in points against the Broncos, but it was still an impressive 29-point performance against arguably the league’s top defense. This win and this offensive showing told me that the Colts’ offense would be a serious threat. And they’ve gone on to score the most points in the league through the first six weeks with 194.
Offense overall grade: A+
Colts offensive stats following Week 6
- 3rd in total offense (2,261 yards)
- 5th in passing yards (1,470 yards)
- 5th in rushing yards (791 yards)
- 1st in points scored (194 points)
Defensive superlatives
MVP: Charvarius Ward, CB
The Colts’ defensive MVP came down to DeForest Buckner and Charvarius Ward. While Buckner is the team’s best player, Ward has been more valuable. The Colts knew they needed a significant addition at CB this offseason, and they signed one of the best on the free agency market in Ward.
He has certainly lived up to his contract, being a true lockdown No. 1 CB in the four games he’s played in this season. Sadly, two concussions have forced him to miss two games, but his absence showed just how large his impact is on this defense.
Glue guy: Camryn Bynum, S
Next up is another offseason signing: safety Cam Bynum. Bynum has been a consistent performer, helping take away the deep ball for most of this season.
The Colts’ poor CB depth has hurt the safeties, but Bynum has been worth every penny the Colts gave him this offseason. I also think once the Colts get healthier at CB, we will see more turnovers like the beginning of the year for Bynum.
Biggest surprise: Nick Cross, S
Next up is the Colts’ other starting safety, Nick Cross. Bynum was awarded for his coverage ability, but Cross has excelled as a run defender and blitzer this season. He leads the team in tackles with 47 and has the second-most tackles for loss with four.
Lou Anarumo has also used Cross more as a blitzer than he’s ever been used in his career, and it’s already led to him having 1.5 sacks. Cross is playing his way into an extension, and ahead of this season, I don’t think he was there quite yet.
Biggest disappointment: Injuries piling up at CB
The Colts focused on making significant changes to their secondary, especially the CB room. They signed Ward, who has been the unit’s MVP, and also drafted Justin Walley in the third round.
Sadly, Walley suffered a season-ending injury in training camp, and Ward has suffered two concussions to start the year. The team has also had to play half its games without starting nickel Kenny Moore II and has seen key depth pieces Jaylon Jones and Mike Hilton placed on IR.
Turning point of the last six weeks: The defense’s struggles vs. the Cardinals in Week 6, hopefully leading to a trade
The Colts are coming off their worst defensive performance of the year in Week 6 vs. the Arizona Cardinals. They allowed backup QB Jacoby Brissett to throw for over 300 yards and gave up 27 points.
Their pass rush has not been good enough, and their injured CBs will be a problem. Hopefully, this awful performance makes the Colts realize that a trade — or maybe two — is vital if they want to become true contenders.
Defense overall grade: C
Colts defensive stats following Week 6
- 21st in total offensive yards allowed (1,975 yards)
- 23rd in passing yards allowed (1,397 yards)
- 14th in rushing yards allowed (578 yards)
- 8th in points allowed (116 points)
2025 draft class superlatives
Overachiever: Tyler Warren, TE
Expectations were through the roof for the Colts’ first-round pick, Tyler Warren. And yet he’s still overachieving in his first year in the NFL. He leads the Colts in receiving yards with 370, targets with 40, and receptions with 29.
He also leads all TEs in receiving yards this season. From the moment he stepped on an NFL field, he has been an elite TE. He’s been exactly what the doctor ordered for a Colts offense that hadn’t had steady TE production since Jack Doyle.
Rookie we need to see more from: DJ Giddens, RB
DJ Giddens looked electric throughout training camp and seemed to have earned the primary backup job behind Taylor. Through six weeks, though, Giddens’ impact has been minimal, with multiple players outplaying him in the backfield.
Taylor has been awesome this year, but if the Colts want to take some of the workload off his shoulders, they will need Giddens to step up and improve his play for the rest of the season.
Underachiever: JT Tuimoloau, Edge
Colts second-round pick JT Tuimoloau isn’t even playing poorly to earn this reward. It’s the fact that he hasn’t even been on the field at all.
He’s been a healthy scratch for half the season and is buried in the team’s depth chart. Not what you want to see from your second-round pick, especially one that many labeled a high-floor prospect through the draft process.
Draft class overall grade: C-
Colts 2025 Draft Class
- 1st Round: Tyler Warren, TE
- 2nd Round: JT Tuimoloau, Edge
- 3rd Round: Justin Walley, CB (On IR)
- 4th Round: Jalen Travis, OT
- 5th Round: DJ Giddens, RB
- 6th Round: Riley Leonard, QB
- 6th Round: Tim Smith, DT
- 7th Round: Hunter Wohler, S/LB (On IR)
Coaching report card
Grade: A
What a change a year makes. Many were calling for Shane Steichen’s firing at the end of last season. And now, the Colts’ head coach is considered a top option for the coach of the year award, thanks to his helping Jones revitalize his career. As they say, winning truly fixes everything.
Steichen isn’t the only coach doing a fantastic job, though. New defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo has had to adjust to countless injuries to major contributors. It hadn’t been pretty at times, but the Colts’ defense has still forced a turnover in every game this season and has allowed the eighth fewest points on the year.
Hopefully, the Colts make one or two win-now trades to give Anarumo more talent because he is proving himself to be an elite coordinator this season.
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