When veteran running back Khalil Herbert was injured in the Indianapolis Colts' first preseason game of 2025, it seemed to clear the path for DJ Giddens to play a significant role in Indy’s offense during his rookie year.
The Colts’ primary backup from 2024, Trey Sermon, was gone. Sermon had carried the ball just 56 times last season. The Colts were desperate to provide workhorse Jonathan Taylor, who logged 303 carries in ’24, some help in the backfield.
It looked as if the battle for Taylor’s backup would come down to Khalil and Giddens. Tyler Goodson was also in the mix, but he was on the roster for his special teams prowess more than his running.