Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Colts training camp standout has a massive opportunity in front of him due to the team's recent onslaught of injuries

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Destin Adams | Last updated Dec 27, 2025 4:41 PM ET

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen announced on Friday that the team was placing star DT DeForest Buckner on the IR, ending his season. It seems he wasn't the only player landing on the IR, though. The team announced two more players going on the IR as part of their roster moves for their Week 17 matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The team also placed WR Anthony Gould and TE Drew Ogletree on the IR, ending their regular season. Ogletree, in particular, missing the team's final two games opens up a significant opportunity for a player who turned heads in training camp but hasn't gotten a chance to show what he can do in the regular season.

we have placed WR Anthony Gould, TE Drew Ogletree and DT DeForest Buckner on IR.

we have also activated WR Ashton Dulin from IR, signed DT Chris Wormley to the 53-man roster from the practice squad, and elevated C Jimmy Morrissey and G Josh Sills to the active roster from the… pic.twitter.com/7bgz5FkDn2
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) December 27, 2025

Colts may finally give Will Mallory some run after placing Drew Ogletree on the IR

During training camp it was evident that rookie Tyler Warren was going to have a big role this season. The second best TE during camp though was Will Mallory, especially when it came to the receiving game.

Oct 6, 2024; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Indianapolis Colts tight end Will Mallory (86) looks on after a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium. Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

The Colts drafted Mallory with the 162nd pick in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. During his first two seasons, he appeared in 22 total games, and this past training camp, he looked prime for a breakout year. Instead, it's been by far his lowest usage of his career, with him only appearing in one game through the first 16 weeks.

The team has elected to prioritize the run blocking duo of Ogletree and Mo Alie-Cox as Warren’s backups. Now, with Ogletree on the IR, an opportunity for Mallory to step up and fill that hole has appeared. I think Mallory gives the Colts a better route runner and receiving threat at TE than Ogletree, which could fit Philip Rivers' love for throwing to TEs.

This story was originally published by A to Z Sports on Dec 27, 2025, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add A to Z Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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