With training camp near, here are three Colts players who will be returning from significant injuries in 2024.

With training camp almost here for the Indianapolis Colts, back on the practice field will be three players who missed the entire 2024 season due to significant injuries.

Upon their return to training camp action, all three will find themselves either competing for playing time or roster spots, to varying degrees.

Let’s take a closer look at each player and the potential roles they could carve out in 2025.

DE Samson Ebukam

Ebukam missed the 2024 season due to an Achilles injury he suffered early on in training camp. In the 2023 season, his first with the Colts, Ebukam was one of the team’s most productive pass rushers, totaling 48 pressures, along with leading Indianapolis in sacks with 9.5.

Presumably, Laiatu Latu and Kwity Paye will be at the top of the defensive end depth chart, but this is a heavily rotated position where four or even five players see regular playing time. Ebukam will be competing with Tyquan Lewis and JT Tuimoloau for snaps in Lou Anarumo’s new defense.

When a player is coming off an Achilles injury, there are unknowns around what to expect in that first season back, which is something that GM Chris Ballard acknowledged this offseason. However, this is a Colts’ defense that very much missed Ebukam’s presence last season as well.

“It’s a concern, absolutely,” Ballard said earlier this offseason of Ebukam coming off the Achilles’ injury via the team site. “But when you know who the kid is and what he stands for and the effort he puts into everything, I’m willing to make that bet.”

Ballard continued, “We missed his physicality. Undeniably, we missed what Samson brought a year ago.”

S Daniel Scott

Scott was a Day 3 pick by the Colts in 2023, and he is yet to play a preseason snap in his NFL career. As a rookie, he suffered an ACL injury in June of that season, and then last spring, an Achilles injury ended Scott’s 2024 season before it could begin.

We know that Nick Cross and Cam Bynum will be leading the way for the Colts at safety, but there are some unknowns when it comes to the depth behind those two. Overall, this is a relatively inexperienced position group.

Rodney Thomas and Hunter Wohler are likely the favorites to back up Cross and Bynum, but in Anarumo’s more defensive back-heavy scheme–which has often used three safeties–perhaps we see the Colts carry a fifth safety, at which point, a roster spot is then opened up.

Shane Steichen and Chris Ballard have both spoken very highly of Scott, but he’s still a very inexperienced player at this point in his career.

“I think he’s going to have a (expletive) of a future,” Steichen said during the 2024 offseason programs. “He’s smart, intelligent. That’s part of it playing in the back end, communication. He made a good play on the ball.”

TE Jelani Woods

A toe injury sustained last summer that required surgery left Woods on injured reserve before the 2024 season even began. This injury came after Woods also missed the entire 2023 season due to hamstring injuries.

A third-round pick by the Colts, Woods brings an impressive combination of size and speed to the tight end position, which gives him the potential to really impact the passing game, particularly over the middle and down the seam. Unfortunately, injuries have limited Woods’ ability to be on the field.

Tyler Warren brings a do-it-all skill set to the position, while Drew Ogletree and Mo Alie-Cox have been block-first options. So, Woods may find himself competing with Will Mallory for that more pass-catching heavy role at the position. Of note, Mallory put together a strong offseason.