INDIANAPOLIS — Time is quickly winding down for pro personnel types, and the personnel they’re evaluating.
For the Indianapolis Colts, that means Tuesday’s joint practice with the Bengals in Cincinnati, followed by Thursday’s preseason finale at Paycor Stadium.
Looming is the Aug. 27 roster cut to 53 players. As we always remind everyone, the initial paring is just the beginning.
General Manager Chris Ballard and his staff will peruse the waiver wire for released players who are better than a few they kept at certain positions. And a slew of players released will be re-signed to the 16-player practice squad (17 if it includes an international player).
Rosters always are fluid, and that’s especially true after more than 1,000 players are waived, released, placed on IR, etc.
For the Colts, it’s all about getting as ready as possible for the Sept. 8 opener against the Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Not that Ballard pays attention or heeds our advice – we’ve long lobbied for him to add a veteran safety or cornerback – but here’s our pre-Cincy projection of the 53-player breakdown. (* denotes rookie).
QUARTERBACK (2)
Starter: Anthony Richardson.
Backup: Joe Flacco.
Out: Sam Ehlinger, Jason Bean*, Kedon Slovis*.
Comment: We’re comfortable carrying two along with a third on the practice squad. Ehlinger? Maybe Bean as more of a developmental prospect? The NFL tweaked the emergency quarterback rule for game day. Previously, he had to be part of the 53. Now, that QB can be carried on the practice squad and elevated for a game.
RUNNING BACK (4)
Starter: Jonathan Taylor.
Backup: Trey Sermon.
Depth: Tyler Goodson, Evan Hull.
Out: Zavier Scott, Demetric Felton.
Comment: We expect the Colts to give Taylor a steady workload; 18-20 carries per game sounds about right. He’ll get more if a situation warrants, but Richardson is going to figure heavily into the run game as well. Here’s a position Ballard didn’t listen to us. We would prefer a more established backup. Zack Moss spoiled us.
WIDE RECEIVER (6)
Starters: Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce.
Slot: Josh Downs.
Depth: AD Mitchell, Anthony Gould*, Ashton Dulin.
Out: D.J. Montgomery, Greg Ward, Laquon Treadwell, Juwann Winfree, Tyrie Cleveland, Derek Slywka*.
Comment: Downs’ situation mucks things up a bit. He’s one of Shane Steichen’s true playmakers out of the slot, but there’s a chance he misses a game or two while recovering from a high sprain to his left ankle. I’m also not sold on keeping Dulin. He’s missed camp time and both preseason games with a hamstring injury, and that’s after missing last season with a torn ACL. We won’t be shocked if the Colts part with Dulin and give that No. 6 spot to Montgomery or Winfree.
TIGHT END (4)
Starters: Mo Alie-Cox, Kylen Granson.
Depth: Drew Ogletree, Jelani Woods.
Out: Will Mallory, Eric Tomlinson, Jordan Murray.
Comment: We’re this close to moving on from Woods and keeping Mallory. In reality, neither has moved the needle during the preseason. And that’s disappointing with Woods, who was limited to four snaps against Arizona because of a toe injury. The 2022 third-round pick flashed as a rookie (25 catches, 312 yards, three TDs), but missed last season with hamstring injuries. We’ll soon find out if Woods’ size (6-7, 253), high ceiling and draft status buys him another season. Also, it might be too early to part with Mallory, a 2023 fifth-round pick who probably wouldn’t make it through waivers.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9)
Starters: LT Bernhard Raimann, LG Quenton Nelson, C Ryan Kelly, RG Will Fries, RT Braden Smith.
Depth: T Blake Freeland, T Matt Goncalves*, C/G Tanor Bortolini*, Dalton Tucker*.
Out: Danny Pinter, Arlington Hambright, Jake Witt, Mike Panasiuk.
Comment: There’s extreme comfort knowing a starting line that played pretty well last season returns intact. It’s beyond encouraging to watch Raimann develop into a solid, reliable left tackle, especially after the way the team threw the 2022 third-round pick into the deep end of the pool as a rookie. We’d feel much better about the depth if Freeland had had a better camp and didn’t struggle against Arizona. Goncalves and Bortolini aren’t going anywhere. We flipped a coin, so Tucker is in and Pinter out.
DEFENSIVE LINE (10)
Starters: E Kwity Paye, T DeForest Buckner, T Grover Stewart, E Tyquan Lewis.
Depth: E Laiatu Latu*, T Raekwon Davis, E Dayo Odeyingbo, T Adetomiwa Adebawore, T Taven Bryan, E Isaiah Land.
Out: Samson Ebukam (IR with torn Achilles), Eric Johnson II, Genard Avery, Jonah Laulu*, Titus Leo, Derek Rivers, Levi Bell.
Comment: One of the roster’s strongest groups got stronger Monday when Davis was activated off the non-football injury (NFI) list. He was one of Ballard’s few free-agent acquisitions – a two-year, $14 million deal with $7 million guaranteed – but missed the entirety of camp with high blood pressure. The 6-7, 325-pound Davis should be a reliable backup at nose for Grover.
LINEBACKER (5)
Starters: Zaire Franklin, E.J. Speed, Segun Olubi.
Depth: Grant Stuard, Jaylon Carlies*.
Out: Liam Anderson, Craig Young*, Austin Ajiaka, Cameron McGrone, Mike Smith Jr.*
Comment: This feels a little thin, but coordinator Gus Bradley usually is in a sub package with an extra DB. It’s going to be fun watching Franklin and Speed continue to grow as a tandem.
SECONDARY (10)
Starters: CB JuJu Brents, CB Jaylon Jones, S Julian Blackmon, S Nick Cross.
Nickel: Kenny Moore II.
Depth: CB Dallis Flowers, CB Chris Lammons, CB Jaylin Simpson*, S Ronnie Harrison Jr., S Rodney Thomas II.
Out: CB Micah Abraham*, CB Darrell Baker Jr., S Trevor Denbow, S Marcel Denbow, CB Clay Fields III*, CB Ameer Speed, S Michael Tutsie.
Comment: After 12 camp practices and two preseason games, we’re still concerned. Can Brents stay healthy? The 2023 second-round pick now has dealt with wrist, hamstring, quad, shoulder and nose injuries. Are the Colts good enough on the backend with Cross at free safety, which would allow Blackmon to stay at strong?
SPECIAL TEAMS (3)
Kicker: Matt Gay.
Punter: Rigoberto Sanchez.
Holder: Luke Rhodes.
Out: K Spencer Shrader*.
Comment: We’re not at DEFCON 2, but we’re also not just going to dismiss Gay’s 1-of-4 preseason. He’s got to get his act together.
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.