In just under two weeks, the Indianapolis Colts will hit the field at Lucas Oil Stadium for the start of the regular season against the Houston Texans. However, they have one huge hurdle before they get there: chop the roster down to 53 players from 91 by 2:00 pm ET on Tuesday.
After 13 training camp practices (including three joint practices against the Arizona Cardinals and Cincinnati Bengals) and three preseason games, the Colts’ decision-makers must now go through one of the most painstaking parts of their jobs. But they want it this way: it’s supposed to be hard for players to make the roster.
With four months of observations at our disposal that started back in May during OTAs and the offseason program, here is a guess at the Colts’ 53-man roster.
Anthony Richardson, Joe Flacco, Sam Ehlinger
Cuts: Kedon Slovis, Jason Bean
Good PS candidates: Slovis, Bean
Richardson and Flacco are a given, but what do the Colts do after that? I initially had them rolling with two until the news broke that the emergency QB had to be on the 53-man roster.
This was a positive camp for the entire quarterback group. Richardson showed growth all around as a quarterback, especially mentally. After 13 practices, including the final three being joint practices, Richardson went 92-of-143 passing (64.3%) with 10 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, and 5 rushing touchdowns. Richardson had a rocky preseason, but you’re going to get those clear peaks and valleys with such an inexperienced quarterback. What you’re looking for is consistency to form throughout the season and mistakes to be corrected without the same ones being repeated routinely.
Flacco was a positive influence on a receiving corps that didn’t have a massive drop-off whether they were working with the first or second-team offense. Guys like Alec Pierce, AD Mitchell, and Anthony Gould benefitted greatly from having a capable quarterback operating the offense.
Bean is one of the biggest sweethearts of the summer after displaying rare production throughout three preseason games and routinely leading the offense to points.
The Colts already waived Slovis, but he showed a nice ability to operate an offense and to stand firm in the pocket and deliver the ball with pressure bearing down.
Jonathan Taylor, Trey Sermon, Tyler Goodson
Cuts: Evan Hull, Demetric Felton, Zavier Scott
Good PS candidates: Hull, Felton, Scott
Taylor came back to Grand Park looking as good as ever, but it was the depth behind him that was a pleasant surprise.
Sermon injured his hamstring during the first preseason game and then missed the final two weeks of camp (and two preseason games), which gave the other running backs an opportunity to show their abilities with the first and second-team offenses.
Goodson and Hull had an entertaining battle for RB3 throughout the summer, combining for 179 yards rushing during the preseason. Both have given the Colts plenty to consider. Hull has shown positive growth running between the tackles, while Goodson’s quickness and burst have been on display.
The running back who has arguably grown the most, however, is second-year UDFA Scott, who went from mixing into the crowd last summer to standing out and making some plays this year.
In the end, I have the Colts keeping Goodson and letting go of Hull (hoping he can clear waivers and make it back to the practice squad), who becomes a victim of the numbers game after having to keep Ehlinger on the final roster.
WIDE RECEIVER
Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, Alec Pierce, AD Mitchell, Anthony Gould, Ashton Dulin
Cuts: D.J. Montgomery, Juwann Winfree, Laquon Treadwell, Greg Ward, Derek Slywka, Tyrie Cleveland
Good PS candidates: Montgomery, Winfree, Treadwell
This is arguably the deepest group of receivers the Colts have had in camp during GM Chris Ballard’s tenure, but how do they feel about it? Because last year, their cuts led them to keep just three receivers initially.
Pittman, Downs, Pierce, and Mitchell are etched in stone, and it feels the same for Gould. Dulin has been a core special teamer throughout his career and is more than likely locked in as well, but his spot may be most vulnerable to a guy like Montgomery, who has done all the right things and seems also to be a coaching favorite.
This summer has been a rare instance where I can recall each member of the receiving corps making some plays.
