Tyler Warren Groin Injury Threatens Colts vs. Titans Lineup

A groin injury has placed Indianapolis Colts rookie tight end Tyler Warren on the questionable list ahead of Sunday’s home matchup against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium, compounding an already severe personnel shortage in the team’s passing game.

Warren managed only limited participation during Friday’s practice. The designation leaves his availability for a critical AFC South contest uncertain just days after he delivered the most productive receiving performance of his young NFL career. During last Sunday’s 34-22 defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the first-round draft pick recorded seven receptions for 83 yards and added a 1-yard rushing touchdown.

The potential absence of the Penn State product carries heavy schematic consequences for quarterback Daniel Jones. Indianapolis relies heavily on its tight ends to execute play-action concepts and provide reliable intermediate targets over the middle of the field. Through six games this season, Warren has accumulated 30 catches for 213 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 7.1 yards per reception. He currently ranks second on the roster in receiving yards, trailing only slot receiver Josh Downs, who holds the team lead with 249 yards.

Complicating offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter’s preparation is the parallel uncertainty surrounding Will Mallory. The veteran tight end returned to full participation across all three practices this week following a stint on injured reserve, yet the team still designated him as questionable for the weekend. Under NFL rules, a player activated from injured reserve must be formally cleared through the transaction wire before suiting up, meaning Mallory’s return requires corresponding roster moves even if medical staff clears him physically.

If neither Warren nor Mallory takes the field Sunday, Indianapolis would lean on Mo Alie-Cox and Drew Ogletree to handle the bulk of the tight end snaps. Both players function primarily as blockers or situational red-zone threats rather than every-down receivers, forcing the coaching staff to potentially deploy additional wide receiver sets or rely more heavily on running back check-downs to move the chains.

Two other depth pieces have already been ruled out for the contest. Wide receiver and core special teams contributor Ashton Dulin will miss the game, reducing Indianapolis’ coverage units against a Titans squad that frequently utilizes aggressive return schemes. Linebacker Jaylon Carlies is also officially sidelined, thinning the defensive rotation against a Tennessee rushing attack that historically emphasizes physicality along the line of scrimmage.

Indianapolis selected Warren with the 14th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, viewing him as a foundational piece capable of immediately replacing the production lost when veteran tight ends departed in free agency. His transition from college standout to immediate professional contributor has stabilized a receiving corps that otherwise lacks proven depth beyond Downs and Michael Pittman Jr., who remains the primary outside threat.

The Colts finalized their Friday injury report with both tight ends carrying questionable tags, shifting final activation decisions to pregame warmups Sunday morning.