WESTFIELD, Ind. — The Indianapolis Colts opened 2026 training camp at Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield with a week full of storylines. This week, we saw key players return to action for the Colts after a long offseason of rehab. Colts fans were able to see Daniel Jones prove he's fully healthy, a rookie linebacker finally getting on the field, and a new standard set by owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon. Here's everything worth knowing from Week 1.
Daniel Jones Shows No Signs of Achilles Injury
Perhaps the most important storyline of the week was the health of starting quarterback Daniel Jones, who tore his Achilles in December. Through the first week, Jones has looked comfortable extending plays, scrambling, and delivering the ball accurately to his skill players. Jones showed limited weaknesses and was able to show off in front of the fans on his surgically repaired Achilles.
Tight end Mo Alie-Cox has seen the difference up close.
“He looks like he never got hurt," Alie-Cox said. "I mean, you see he's throwing dimes on the right side of the field, and he's getting out of the pocket, scrambling, doing different things like that. I think his confidence is building more and more every day, and when we put the pads on, I think he'll take it to another level.”
Jones, a process-driven quarterback, credited his day-by-day mentality to his speedy return to action.
“I feel like I made a lot of good progress the last six weeks,” Jones said. “Last time I spoke to you, I was cleared to do stuff, but I still think there's a process to getting back, feeling more comfortable, getting some of the strength and the twitch back. It felt good out there today. It definitely was a goal of mine to be back for the first day of training camp, so there's some satisfaction in that, but it's still a process.”
Head coach Shane Steichen sang his quarterback's praises in Jones’s return to training camp.
“I thought he looked really good, obviously, his first day back with the team. I was impressed with the way he was throwing the ball, completing a lot of passes, moving well, doing some movement stuff,” Steichen said. “I think it means a lot to our group and our guys in the locker room to see the hard work that he's put in to be where he's at right now, doing full team reps eight months post-op from his surgery. It's a credit to him and the work he's put in to be able to be out here to start training camp. It's pretty impressive.”
Left guard Quenton Nelson, who has watched Jones' rehab process from inside the building, made it clear how much the offensive line respects the work that's gone into this return.
“He's always been a hard worker. He’s the first one in, and the last one out,” Nelson said. “But I think he really enjoys the work that he does to be the best quarterback he can be.”
The Colts desperately need Jones to return to form if they want to contend in the AFC this year. Being healthy to start training camp is promising, but when pads go on next week, we will learn more about Jones going full speed into the upcoming season.
Wide Receiver Room Already Thin
Depth at wide receiver was a concern entering camp with Alec Pierce sidelined by an ankle injury. With Pierce injured, there is a lot more pressure on names like Josh Downs, Ashton Dulin, and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine to carry the load in 11-on-11 work until the group gets healthier. Former Indiana Hoosier Nick Westbrook-Ikhine showed flashes in the first week of training camp and could potentially be in a position to fight for the spot to become the third wide receiver alongside Pierce and Downs.
Tyler Warren Looks the Part of an Elite Tight End
If there's one player who has separated himself early in individual drills, it's second-year tight end Tyler Warren. Warren was incredible as a rookie for the Colts last season, posting 76 receptions, 817 yards, and 4 touchdowns in his first season in the NFL. Warren has impressed with his route-running and reliable hands. With the departure of Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce’s injury, expect Warren to see more targets in year two.
CJ Allen Gets His First Taste of Camp
Second-round rookie linebacker CJ Allen opened camp on the Active PUP list after tweaking his calf in a pre-camp workout, but he was activated and took the field as a full participant for the first time. The All-American linebacker from Georgia was a do-it-all linebacker in the SEC.
When the Colts drafted him, he stood out for his leadership and communication on defense, the traits Indianapolis is counting on to eventually replace longtime starter Zaire Franklin as the quarterback of the unit. Allen is wearing a green dot, signifying his role as the only player on the defense to be directly relaying the play calls from defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. In an already thin linebacker room, Allen isn't being handed anything, but the early exposure to first-team reps as a rookie is a strong sign of how much trust the staff already has in him.
Owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon Sets the Tone
Colts owner and CEO Carlie Irsay-Gordon started the mission statement for the 2026 season, “Find a Way”.
“As we reflected on last season, this one phrase just kept coming to my mind, and that was ‘find a way,’” Irsay-Gordon said. “So that was the mantra we settled on for this season. We thought about what qualities successful people have: consistency, resilience in the face of adversity, and most importantly, a mental toughness and a find-a-way mindset. I know and believe that on our roster and in our organization, we have everything we need this year to get where we need to go.”
Irsay-Gordon heads into her second season in charge of the Indianapolis Colts after taking over in the wake of her father Jim’s unexpected passing in 2025.
The Colts crumbled in the second half of the 2025 season, falling from first place in the AFC to out of the NFL playoffs. While injuries could be the scapegoat for last season's collapse. Irsay-Gordon is keeping the standard high, like her father before her, by introducing the “Find a Way” mantra ahead of the season.
The Bottom Line
We have just scratched the surface of what the rest of the preseason has to offer ahead of the 2026 NFL season. For Colts fans, they can be happy to have a healthy quarterback and a fresh face in the linebacker room. The foundational pieces look like they're trending in the right direction as camp rolls on and transitions into full pads next week.
