The Lions and Falcons are each dealing with apparent hold-ins by their respective star running backs.
While Jonathan Taylor is not on his first pro deal, he is in a contract year. But he’s not taking the same approach with the Colts.
Taylor was on the field practicing with the team on Wednesday and said after the session that he feels like an extension is on its way.
“I have faith,” Taylor said, via Nathan Brown of the Indianapolis Star. “There have been some good conversations, but I have faith between my agent and the front office.
“Like I‘ve said already, I would love to be a Colt for life, and I have faith that things are moving in the right direction.”
Taylor signed a three-year, $42 million extension with Indianapolis midway through the 2023 season. He’s No. 1 in franchise history with 69 rushing touchdowns and No. 2 in rushing yards, needing 1,629 to take over the No. 1 spot from Hall of Famer Edgerrin James.
Colts Clips
Colts General Manager Chris Ballard is in the last year of his contract.
From his comments in his Tuesday press conference, he knows it could be his final season with the team.
The Colts have not made the postseason since 2020 — which was quarterback Philip Rivers’ first one-year stint with the team. Indianapolis has just one postseason victory in Ballard’s tenure, which came all the way back in 2018.
When asked on Tuesday if he’s expecting a contract extension before the season, Ballard candidly answered, “No. I wouldn’t do one.”
Why not?
“I’m in the last year of my deal,” Ballard said. “We need to win.”
But Ballard said his status will not “at all” affect how he approaches potential extensions for players.
“I think I will always — and y’all all know me well enough — I’m always going to do the best thing for the organization,” Ballard said. “Ultimately, that’s my job. Anytime you do selfish, alternative, ulterior motive in play — that’s not good for the game, it’s not good for the organization. We will always do what’s best for this club. I have too much respect for the Colts, I have too much respect for what Mr. Irsay stood for as an owner, too much respect for the girls — for Carlie [Irsay-Gordon], Casey [Foyt], and Kalen [Jackson] — as they start their venture as owners into this thing. No, we’ll always do the right thing.”
Ballard was also asked about how much pressure he feels going into the 2026 season. His answer was reflective, expressing plenty of gratitude.
“[T]his is my 26th year in the league,” Ballard said. “And as a kid, if you would’ve told me, I’d be able to work in football and do this for a career, I would’ve signed up 100 times over. OK? The journey’s different for everybody. I’m just a steward in this position. I’ve always believed that. And I’ll always do the best thing for the organization — both short and long-term. That’s just how I tick and how I roll. I’m grateful that I’ve always had a job in this league that I have great respect for and that will never change. Like, the fun to me is the journey — that’s the fun part. Even the hard moments, they’re not — compared to what other people have to go through, they’re not really that … hard. They’re judged, rightfully so — we’re in the public eye, and we should be judged. But I get to do football every day, and I never take that for granted.
“So, in terms of the pressure, nobody puts more pressure on me than myself to succeed. But like if I’ve learned anything over the years, sometimes you’ve got to enjoy all of it — the good and the bad. That’s the fun part of this, going through things that are not always easy with people that you care about and respect. Man, not everybody gets to do that in life. I’ve been very fortunate.”
Anthony Richardson requested a trade this offseason, but he remains on the Colts’ roster and it doesn’t sound like any move involving the quarterback is imminent.
General Manager Chris Ballard said at a Tuesday press conference that the team intends to keep Richardson, Daniel Jones and Riley Leonard on the roster into the regular season. That is the case despite the fact that Richardson’s trade request remains in place.
“It is. I think they’re realistic and we’re realistic,” Ballard said, via WISH. “We’re not just giving him away, not going to do that.”
Ballard’s comments suggest the Colts’ commitment to keeping all three quarterbacks could shift if another team makes an aggressive play for the 2023 first-round pick. The absence of such a play this offseason may mean that it will take an injury elsewhere in the league for someone to offer the Colts anything that would change their mind.
The Colts’ defense has received a boost for the start of training camp.
Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner told reporters on Tuesday that he’s been medically cleared after undergoing neck surgery in December. He did not participate in on-field drills during Indianapolis’ offseason program.
“I’m excited to get back out there, get back on the field,” Buckner said Tuesday, via Stephen Holder of ESPN. “Obviously, I was cleared yesterday. So, obviously, everybody has a plan on getting me back on the field. And, yeah, I’m just excited to get back out there with the guys.”
Buckner, 32, was able to play just 10 games last season after playing 12 in 2024. The veteran defensive tackle finished 2025 with 4.0 sacks, nine tackles for loss, and 13 quarterback hits.
If he’s healthy and productive in 2026, it will be a significant help to a defensive unit that finished last year No. 21 in points allowed and No. 23 in yards allowed.
The Raiders signed defensive end Patrick Johnson, linebacker Buddy Johnson and wide receiver Deven Thompkins, the team announced Monday.
They were among the eight free agents the Raiders worked out. Running back Miles Sanders was not among the workout players signed by the team.
Patrick Johnson joins the Raiders for his sixth NFL season after spending 2025 with the Eagles, where he played in nine games. He finished with three tackles, one sack, two quarterback hits and one tackle for loss, along with five total tackles on special teams.
Johnson has appeared in 70 career games with the Eagles (2021-25) and Giants (2024) after initially entering the league as a seventh-round draft pick of Philadelphia. He has totaled 14 tackles, a sack, six quarterback hits, two tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Buddy Johnson joins the Raiders for his fifth NFL season after entering the league as a fourth-round pick of the Steelers in 2021. He has played 33 games with the Steelers (2021), Cowboys (2023-25) and Colts (2025).
Johnson has totaled four tackles and one tackle for loss on defense as well as 23 special teams tackles.
He started last season on the Cowboys’ practice squad and was elevated for one game before signing to the Colts’ active roster in Week 5. He played 12 games for Indianapolis.
Deven Thompkins joins the Raiders for his fifth NFL season after entering the league as an undrafted free agent with the Buccaneers in 2022. He has played 36 career games with the Buccaneers (2022-23), Panthers (2024) and Falcons (2025).
In his career, Thompkins has 29 receptions for 162 yards and one touchdown as well as 13 carries for 94 yards. He has seen some action as a returner in his career, posting 368 yards on 42 punt returns (8.8 avg.) and 1,005 yards on 45 kickoff returns (22.3 avg.).
In corresponding moves, the Raiders waived wide receiver Jonathan Brady, linebacker Chris Thomas and defensive tackle Laki Tasi.
The Colts placed linebacker CJ Allen and wide receiver Alec Pierce on the active/physically unable to perform list.
Players on the list can return as soon as they pass a physical before the Aug. 30 roster cut-down.
The Colts also announced they waived undrafted running back Lincoln Pare with a non-football injury.
Pierce continues rehab after left ankle surgery in March. The surgery was needed to fix a problem he’s had since 2024 after a platelet-rich plasma treatment in January didn’t work as hoped.
Pierce was expected to need 4-6 months post-surgery, which will keep him sidelined into training camp.
Pierce, who re-signed with the Colts on a four-year, $114 million deal, set career highs with 47 receptions and 1,003 yards last season. He also had six touchdowns.
Allen tweaked his calf in a workout, James Boyd of TheAthletic.com reports, but it is not believed to be a long-term injury.
Colts quarterback Daniel Jones said Sunday that he feels “really good” and is good to go for training camp. He expanded on that in an interview with The Pat McAfee Show on Monday.
Jones will have no restrictions for the team’s first practice on Wednesday, participating in 11-on-11 drills for the first time since his injury Dec. 7.
“I’m feeling good, feeling good. Plan is to be back in 11-on-11, full team drills Wednesday when we start up practice and be out there with the guys,” Jones told McAfee, via the Indianapolis Star. “Rehab has been good to this point. I still have some work to do as we get ready for Week 1, but I feel really good with where I am.”
Jones tore his right Achilles tendon during a Week 14 loss to the Jaguars. He returned to individual drills and 7-on-7 during the mandatory minicamp but was held out of team drills.
Jones has repeatedly said he expects to play Week 1 against the Ravens, and he reiterated that Monday.
“I’m in a really good spot. I can do everything. There’s nothing that I can’t do,” Jones said Monday. “There’s still that last little bit that you’re working to get back, but I feel good that in the next month or so as I get back into team drills, 11-on-11 and doing everything again that I’ll be coming back and feeling 100 percent.”
Colts quarterback Daniel Jones says he is feeling no ill effects from the torn Achilles tendon that ended his 2025 season.
Jones joined the ESPN booth for the NFL Flag Championships in Indianapolis and said he’ll be 100 percent for the Colts’ first training camp practice on Wednesday.
“I feel good. Really good. Excited to get going. We report tomorrow, first practice Wednesday, so good to go. I’m excited to get rolling,” Jones said.
Colts head coach Shane Steichen was also at the NFL Flag Championships and said he’s been thrilled with Jones’ work this offseason.
“He looks great. He’s attacked the rehab process, as good as it gets,” Steichen said. “He’ll be a full participant.”
Jones was having a solid season before he suffered the injury. He signed a two-year, $88 million contract this offseason to remain with the Colts.
Adam Vinatieri began his career with the Patriots and played 10 seasons in New England, but he left and went to the Colts for 14 more.
Not surprisingly, Vinatieri has chosen someone from the Colts to present him at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Vinatieri would have asked late owner Jim Irsay if the former kicker had gone in as a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2025. Instead, Irsay’s daughter, Colts principal owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon, will get the honors at the Aug. 8 enshrinement.
“It means a lot to me, but also potentially means a lot for her being the fact she’s the new owner. This is the right thing to do,” Vinatieri told Mike Chappell of Fox 59.
Jim Irsay died May 21, 2025, at 65.
Vinatieri will join Jan Stenerud and Morten Andersen as the only exclusive kickers to have a bust in Canton. He was clutch in the playoffs for the Patriots and the Colts, winning four Super Bowls while going 56-of-69.
ESPN’s clunky rollout of the latest round of layoffs, which included a long list of recognizable names, came at a time when ESPN is reportedly closing in on paying Pat McAfee $60 million per year. That juxtaposition (triple word score) has created an obvious slew of what’s-wrong-with-this-picture? complaints.
McAfee addressed the pink-slip elephant in the room during his show on Tuesday.
“We hate any time this happens,” McAfee said, via Brendon Kleen of Awful Announcing. “Obviously this is terrible. We don’t like that. But we are very honored that we are still partnered with ESPN and Disney for the good of sport and the future.”
McAfee nevertheless acknowledged the connection that is being made between ESPN not having the money to keep some employees while having more than enough cash to further break the bank for his weekday show and other assignments.
“The first time we licensed the show through ESPN, one of these happened, we got blamed,” McAfee said. “OK, OK. Thank you. I feel like you don’t fully understand budgets and where things are coming from, but I do appreciate that. This time, we’re getting blamed as well. Which I guess I can understand, but I mean, there’s billions and billions of dollars in these companies, and hard decisions have to get made. And we don’t like any of them, and we hope we’re an asset to the company going forward.”
Here’s the basic reality at any company in any industry. The money is there for the people they want. For those they don’t, certain opportunities arise (such as, in this case, the acquisition of NFL Network) to purge the ones they used to like but no longer do.
It happens throughout American business. And it’s driven by management. Currently, McAfee is one of the favorite sons in the eyes of those who have their hands on the wheel. And that’s management’s prerogative.
The other reality is that management’s prerogative can, and will, change. The only true job security is indispensability. For now, guys like McAfee and Stephen A. Smith have it.
But the basic truth is that we’re all replaceable. In time, we’ll all be replaced. The only question is whether we walk away by choice, we’re gently nudged, or we get a two-handed shove.
The only protection against that comes from, to use the technical term, owning your own shit. McAfee owns his daily platform. If/when the ESPN run ends, he’ll go elsewhere or he’ll take the operation independent, again.
