What We Saw: Week 7

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Indianapolis Colts @ Los Angeles Chargers

Final Score: Colts 38, Chargers 24

Writer: Kevan Downs (kdsportsnet on Instagram)

When you can protect your quarterback, good things happen. The Colts have kept Daniel Jones upright all year and he looks so comfortable running the offense. He was only sacked one time Sunday, and the offense as a whole kept negative plays to a minimum. The Chargers are feeling the amount of injuries to their offensive line, one which was supposed to be a top unit entering the season. Offensive tackle Austin Deculus was the latest lineman to he be hurt, although he was able to eventually return to the game. Despite only sacking Justin Herbert three times, the Colts’ defense logged 15 quarterback hits, leading to Herbert rushing to get the ball out, poorly placed passes, and deflections at the line of scrimmage.

Three Up

Keenan Allen — Allen was targeted everywhere, early downs, as the first read, as the safety valve in the scramble drill en route to a 14-target day, his highest total of the season, and hauled in 11 catches.
Oronde Gadsden II — A shocking recent uptick in usage for the fifth-round rookie. What might have been looked at as a one-off, seeing eight targets with no Quentin Johnston last week, Gadsden continued his production with another nine targets this week, bringing in seven of those for 164 yards and a touchdown.
Michael Pittman Jr. — We’re beginning to see some clarity in the Colts’ receiver room, with Pittman and Tyler Warren being the two most consistent options week to week.

Two Down

Quentin Johnston — Gadsden has made the most of his increased opportunity, pushing Johnston down to fourth in targets amongst the Chargers’ receiver group during this game.
Adonai Mitchell — After a start to the season showing some promise for the second-year receiver, Mitchell logged another game in which he saw only one target.

Indianapolis Colts

Quarterback

Daniel Jones: 23/34, 288 Yards, 2 TDs | 5 Carries, 7 Yards

Mistake-free football. The Colts have been great at it this season and it starts with Daniel Jones. The offensive line does their part to keep him clean and Jones continues to play the best football of his career. Jones gets the ball out quickly and, with the help of the Jonathan Taylor run-game threat, runs a great play-action game, rolling out to avoid pressure and finding his plethora of receiving weapons.

Notes

The play-action offense has been working wonders for Jones. It helps him avoid the pass rush, giving his receivers more chances to get open. Tyler Warren and Michael Pittman Jr. have been great at getting open on those looks, with the offense utilizing drive and flood concepts. Jones was also able to connect with Alec Pierce deep in the game, adding yet another dimension to this offense.

Running Back

Jonathan Taylor: 16 Carries, 94 Yards, 3 TDs | 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 38 Yards

The NFL’s leading rusher continues his dominant start to the season. Jonathan Taylor ran for an efficient 94 yards on 16 carries, breaking three of those off for touchdowns. Jones and Taylor continue to make life easier for each other with both the pass and run game being so effective.

Notes

Taylor is so good at hitting the right gap. Some of his runs, it looks like the defensive front isn’t even able to touch him before breaking off a big run. With no competition for touches in the backfield, Taylor will continue to provide one of the best combinations of weekly floor and ceiling.

HAT TRICK FOR JONATHAN TAYLOR!

INDvsLAC on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/WHUtNk81BC

— NFL (@NFL) October 19, 2025

Ameer Abdullah: 2 Carries, 19 yards | 1 Target, 8 Yards | 2 Kick Returns, 109 Yards

Pretty cool to see Ameer Abdullah still sticking around in the league. Only received a handful of touches during the game but did manage to break free for an 81-yard kick return.

Wide Receiver/Tight End

Alec Pierce: 10 Targets, 5 Receptions, 98 Yards

Alec Pierce is looking to have a consistent role in the offense, having the best deep-reception potential amongst this receiver group. He is now firmly ahead of Adonai Mitchell in the hierarchy for targets. Given his percentage of targets that are deep, it will leave room for inconsistency week to week but can be a solid upside play.

Missed Opportunities

Pierce and Jones weren’t able to connect on some of his deep targets in this game. He’ll leave each game with some unrealized air yards but his ability to bring in the deep ball provides weekly upside.

Michael Pittman Jr.: 9 Targets, 7 Receptions, 58 yards, 1 TD

What started as a slow day turned into quite a productive one for Michael Pittman Jr. Jones looks to him and Tyler Warren as the main chain movers in the passing offense.

Notes

Jones flipping the ball to Pittman off play-action is the embodiment of his usage in the offense. He’s schemed open on crossers and quick outs, able to get the defenders on his hip and have a chance for yards after the catch to move the chains.

quick PITT stop

📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/HhmpTA3BA0

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) October 19, 2025

Tyler Warren: 5 Targets, 4 Receptions, 69 yards, 1 TD

Tyler Warren is the most versatile weapon on the Colts’ offense. They line him up at tight end, outside as a receiver, even in the backfield to block or run routes from the fullback position.

Notes

The rookie tight end continues to make things easier for Jones. He had the leverage he needed against Daiyan Henley when he dropped out of a heavy blitz pre-snap look near the goal line, and Jones was able to connect for the touchdown.
Warren will get red-zone and goal-line opportunities. In prior weeks, they’d call up plays for him to give him a chance. This week, on Taylor’s jet sweep near the goal line, they had Warren crossing on the backside of the play to make it seem like he was going to get the ball flipped to him to get defenders to bite and stay an extra second longer towards the middle of the field. We may see that version of the play called up in a future week as teams look to try to slow down Taylor as he converted three touchdowns this week.

Missed Opportunities

Jones tried to find Warren in the back of the end zone on their second drive of the day but sailed the pass over him.

Adonai Mitchell: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 8 Yards

Adonai Mitchell has not recovered from dropping that touchdown pass just before the goal line from a couple games ago.

Los Angeles Chargers

Quarterback

Justin Herbert: 37/55, 420 Yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs | 6 Carries, 31 Yards

Justin Herbert had to put the offense on is back in this one. The run game was ineffective early, forcing longer second and third downs, and with going down early to multiple Colts’ touchdowns, the Chargers had to keep throwing to try to gain back ground. The offensive line injuries are very noticeable as Herbert had pressure in his face most of the day, the Colts’ defense finishing with 15 quarterback hits.

Notes

At times, Herbert held on to the ball too long. This made it even easier for a pass rush who was already able to do seemingly whatever they wanted to get to him.
As the offensive line gets healthier, Herbert will be able to produce even when he is not throwing the ball 55 times in a game. Keenan Allen always seems open and they still have a great connection. Ladd McConkey is starting to produce the way we saw last year, and rookie Oronde Gadsden II has been a pleasant surprise over the last two weeks, who, at 6-foot-5, has been a great, big-bodied compliment to McConkey and Allen

Missed Opportunities

Herbert overthrew McConkey in the back of the end zone. He had him open, but the pass rush forced the throw high. The drive would end with an interception.
Held on to the ball too long, allowing the pass rush to get that much closer. The pass was then deflected at the line of scrimmage, and intercepted.

Running Back

Kimani Vidal: 9 Carries, 20 Yards | 5 targets, 4 Receptions, 15 Yards

Definitely the RB1 while Omarion Hampton remains out. Kimani Vidal was inefficient early in the game and the run game was phased out of the game plan once the Chargers fell behind.

Notes

Vidal was able to get more touches in the pass game compared to Hassan Haskins out of the backfield. This gives him a chance for a productive week even if the run game can’t get going. Looking ahead at the schedule, it would be expected that the Chargers wouldn’t be outscored in the first half the way they were against the Colts, allowing for more opportunities to run the ball.
Vidal had several good reps in pass protection which will help him stay on the field in those situations.

Hassan Haskins: 1 Carry, 3 Yards | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 2 Yards

No threat to Vidal’s touches.

Wide Receiver/Tight End

Oronde Gadsden II: 9 Targets, 7 Receptions, 164 Yards, 1 TD

Two weeks in a row now with a productive day for Gadsden. No one likely thought much of it with Quentin Johnston out last week, but did it again this week with a healthy Johnston in the lineup.

Notes

Gadsden was everywhere in the pass game. Herbert first found him for a 30-yard completion for a first down then saw a lot more targets in the second half, including one he hauled in for his first NFL touchdown.
With Johnston returning from injury this week, it will be worth monitoring each of their snap counts and target share moving forward to see if Gadsden can continue his recent productivity, or if the team was giving him more run to be cautious with Johnston’s hamstring for his first game back.

rook gets his first nfl td

📺 | @nfloncbs pic.twitter.com/XMA5gdtDdI

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) October 19, 2025

Keenan Allen: 14 Targets, 11 Receptions, 119 Yards, 1 TD

Herbert loves his Keenan Allen. Allen was often the first read on a handful of his targets, using his elite route running ability to get open on quick outs and curls, and give himself a chance to turn that into yards after the catch

Notes

Allen finds ways to get open when the play is breaking down and Herbert has to scramble.
Allen is great at settling into the open spots in zone coverages, did so perfectly on his touchdown when Herbert had to roll right out of the pocket.

Missed Opportunities

Allen had one target just off his hands on the sideline that would have resulted in a first down.

Ladd McConkey: 15 Targets, 9 Receptions, 67 Yards

Ladd McConkey and Allen kept moving the chains for Herbert in the second half.

Notes

Despite having similar roles in the offense, Allen still seems to be the receiver Herbert looks to first. This makes it so Ladd isn’t always targeted as he’s breaking on his route so he’s not able to take advantage of the separation he generates as much as Allen giving the defender more of a chance to recover.

Missed Opportunities

Overthrown in the end zone after the pressure got to Herbert.

Quentin Johnston: 6 Targets, 2 Receptions, 30 Yards, 1 TD

A slower return to action for Quentin Johnston. With Gadsden’s big day last week, it could be that the Chargers exercised caution for Johnston’s first game back following his hamstring injury. However, now with back-to-back big days for Gadsden and playing similar roles in the passing attack, it could mean a reduction in targets compared to what we saw to begin the season.

Missed Opportunities