Indianapolis Colts' Jim Bob Cooter evaluates play of rookie RB DJ Giddens

Rookie Running Back DJ Giddens Thriving in Colts Training Camp

Cooter Impressed by Giddens' Adaptability and Versatility

Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter is high on rookie running back DJ Giddens after nearly two weeks of training camp.

"DJ's done a really nice job," Cooter said following Saturday's practice. "He's a young guy, who's been put in some different roles maybe than he was in college. Just in the NFL, you're running the ball, but maybe you're running it from different sides and behind the quarterback. You're running these routes that maybe you never ran in college. You're working different blitz pickup schemes."

Cooter praised Giddens' ability to quickly grasp the nuances of the NFL game, noting how most young running backs struggle with the expanded responsibilities compared to college.

"Oftentimes a young running back has a lot on his plate learning that. It is different than college, but DJ's done a really nice job of picking up the offense, picking up his role and then going out and executing it."

Kansas State Star Brings Explosive Talent to Indianapolis

Giddens arrives in Indianapolis after two standout seasons at Kansas State. In 2024, he averaged a remarkable 6.5 yards per rush, ranking sixth in average yards after contact and 20th in missed tackles forced, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF).

After the NFL Draft, General Manager Chris Ballard highlighted Giddens' exceptional contact balance, making him incredibly difficult to bring down and leading to numerous explosive runs. Giddens finished last season ranked 15th in rushes of 10-plus yards among all running backs.

Adding a Receiving Dimension to the Backfield

Giddens also brings a valuable pass-catching element to the Colts' backfield, something that was lacking in 2024. He was targeted 72 times over his final two seasons at Kansas State and averaged nearly 13.0 yards per catch in 2024.

While Giddens possesses the potential to contribute in passing situations, he also needs to prove himself in pass protection, a skill that often presents a learning curve for rookie running backs.

The Backup Role is Up for Grabs

While Jonathan Taylor is expected to carry the primary workload at running back, the backup role behind him remains open. Giddens is competing with Khalil Herbert and Tyler Goodson for those snaps.

"Oftentimes, he has had a knack in this camp of sort of finding that crease, reading that defense the right way, and working with his offensive line to create yards," Cooter added. "So we're real encouraged with DJ. I'm excited to watch him continue to try different roles, and different routes, and different run schemes within this offense to see what he's comfortable with and where he goes from here."