The Colts on Wednesday signed free agent wide receiver Keenan Allen, adding a six-time Pro Bowler with over 1,000 career receptions to head coach Shane Steichen’s offense.
Allen and Steichen were together with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers from 2014-2020, when Steichen held roles as an offensive quality control coach, quarterbacks coach and, in 2019 and 2020, offensive coordinator.
Allen will wear No. 10 with the Colts.
Over his 13-year career spent with the Chargers (2013-2023, 2025) and Chicago Bears (2024), Allen has totaled 1,055 receptions for 12,051 yards with 70 touchdowns. Known as one of the best route running technicians in football, the 6-foot-2, 211 pound Allen is one of 18 players in NFL history with at least 1,000 receptions, 12,000 yards and 70 touchdowns.
The 34-year-old Allen in 2026 could very well pass two Colts legends and several Hall of Famers on the NFL’s all-time receptions leaderboard.
Allen is 22 receptions shy of passing Andre Johnson (1,062), Reggie Wayne (1,070) and Anquan Boldin (1,076) on the all-time receptions list; passing Boldin would put him 10th. If Allen were to total at least 48 receptions with the Colts in 2026, he could shoot all the way up to fifth all-time in receptions, passing Terrell Owens (1,078), Travis Kelce (1,080, though Kelce’s total will increase with the Kansas City Chiefs this season), Tim Brown (1,094), Cris Carter (1,101) and Marvin Harrison (1,102).
In 2025, Allen appeared in all 17 games with the Chargers and produced at roughly the same level the Colts saw from wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., who was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers in March.
COLTS WR KEENAN ALLEN: https://www.colts.com/video/keenan-allen-on-why-he-signed-with-the-colts-2026-training-camp-media-availability
COLTS COACH SHANE STEICHEN: https://www.colts.com/video/shane-steichen-on-keenan-allen-joining-the-colts-and-his-role-in-the-offense-2026-training-camp-media-availability
COLTS QB DANIEL JONES: https://www.colts.com/video/daniel-jones-on-colts-progress-and-signing-keenan-allen-2026-training-camp-media-availability
News & Notes from Wednesday’s practice:
Cornerback Charvarius Ward Sr. (back) and wide receiver Anthony Gould (groin) did not participate.
Allen did not participate on Wednesday but will work into individual drills on Thursday. He won’t play in the Colts’ preseason game Saturday against the Falcons, but the Colts “will really get him going next week,” Steichen said.
Tight end Tyler Warren exited practice with a groin injury, Steichen said.
As previously mentioned, the ball didn’t hit the ground on any of Daniel Jones’ dropbacks (save for an incompletion to Ashton Dulin that drew pass interference).
Wide receiver Josh Downs caught a tipped pass and dashed into the end zone for a long touchdown from Jones, and later hauled in a Jones deep ball.
With Warren sidelined, tight end Will Mallory got involved with the Colts’ first-team offense; he also caught a pass up the seam from quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. for a chunk gain.
Cornerback Justin Walley had a pick-six of Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in a late-practice move-the-ball period.
In that move-the-ball period, the Colts’ defense seemed to create confusion for Tagovailoa – much as it did in Week 1 of the 2025 season – leading to a dirted pass at one point and not a whole lot of yards gained for Atlanta’s offense.
Running back Seth McGowan took a swing pass from Jones and dashed upfield for an explosive gain.
Kicker Blake Grupe made all five of his attempts, including from 54 yards; kicker Spencer Shrader went three of four with his lone miss from 54.
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