When will the Colts’ star players be back?

Daniel Jones’ health stood as the top update from Colts general manager Chris Ballard, with Ballard stating Jones is progressing well from his Achilles injury and the team is targeting Week 1, though the final timeline will be dictated by his body. Jones, who signed a new two-year deal with Indianapolis this offseason, had been productive before going down, completing 68% of his passes for 3,101 yards, 19 TDs and eight INTs, and racking up 164 rushing yards with five TDs in the 2025 season. The Colts started 8-4 with Jones under center before finishing with five straight losses without him.

Ballard also provided a positive update on star defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, noting he’s in a good spot as he progresses back from neck surgery. Buckner is expected to begin camp with plyometric and movement work, and Ballard indicated the 32-year-old will be ready for a full return to action after the offseason procedure. Buckner returned for one game late last season but is projected to be a key anchor on the line once he’s fully cleared.

Kicker Spencer Schrader’s rehab from an ACL injury is also on track, with Ballard saying Schrader is already kicking and nearing six months post-surgery. Schrader recently connected on a 54-yard attempt, and he’ll compete with veteran Lou Grupe for the kicking duties in training camp. Schrader has been efficient in his opportunities, going 13-for-13 on extra points and 13-for-14 on field goals, while Grupe went 21-for-21 on kicks after taking over Week 14 last season.

Two second-year defensive backs are also in the spotlight as they recover from injury. Cornerback Justin Waller and safety Hunter Wohler sustained season-ending injuries last August, but Ballard expressed strong optimism about their returns and potential impact this season. Both players are progressing through rehab and are expected to be involved for most of OTAs, with Ballard suggesting they would have played major roles last year if not for their injuries.

Ballard also touched on the broader roster shuffle, noting Kenny Moore’s trade situation has implications for the secondary. He expressed optimism that Waller and Wohler can help stabilize the unit as the team navigates offseason changes and continues to build depth ahead of training camp.

In other news from the press conference, the Colts announced numbers for 11 free-agent additions, including Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (No. 12), Nasir Adderly (No. 25), Cam Taylor-Britt (No. 26), Juanyeh Thomas (No. 33), Jonathan Owens (No. 38), Akeem Davis-Gaither (No. 51), Micheal Clemons (No. 72), Derrick Nnadi (No. 92), Jerry Tillery (No. 94), Colby Wooden (No. 96) and Arden Key (No. 98). The team emphasized that this group is expected to provide immediate impact as they integrate into the Colts’ scheme.