INDIANAPOLIS – Um, we are less than a week away from roster cuts beginning.
Before the league-wide final cut to 53 players on August 30, teams have to trim their rosters by 5 each of the next two Tuesdays (cut from 90 to 85 on August 16th, cut from 85 to 80 on August 23rd).
With the Colts having wrapped up 10 of their 16 practices at Grand Park, we are starting to get a better idea of what a 53-man roster could look like.
If you combine the 3 preseason games—each of the next 3 Saturday’s—and the final 6 practices at Grand Park, that leaves 9 on-field opportunities to make an impression on the staff.
Here is a 53-man roster projection (number of players currently on the roster, numbers of players being kept, numbers of players kept there last year) heading into Saturday’s preseason opener:
Quarterbacks (4/2/2): Jack Coan*, Sam Ehlinger, Nick Foles, Matt Ryan
Bowen’s Analysis: I don’t see the need to keep Ehlinger on the 53-man roster. Move him to the practice squad and he shouldn’t be too coveted by other teams. Coan has taken some third-team reps in camp.
Running Backs (7/3/4): Nyheim Hines, Deon Jackson, Phillip Lindsay, D’Vonte Price*, Jonathan Taylor, C.J. Verdell*, Ty’Son Williams
Bowen’s Analysis: I’ll continue to go with Lindsay winning the No. 3 running back job over Jackson and Williams, who has battled some camp injuries. Verdell has flashed a couple of times in camp.
Wide Receivers (12/6/6): Parris Campbell, Keke Coutee, Ashton Dulin, DeMichael Harris, Ethan Fernea*, D.J. Montgomery, Samson Nacua*, Dezmon Patmon, Alec Pierce*, Michael Pittman, Mike Strachan, Michael Young*
Bowen’s Analysis: Some changes here for me. I’ll keep Mike Strachan on the physically unable to perform list to start the season. Keke Coutee is ‘Parris Campbell insurance’ for me. Will Dezmon Patmon impact any on special teams?
Tight Ends (6/4/3): Mo Alie-Cox, Kylen Granson, Michael Jacobson, Nikola Kalinic, Drew Ogletree*, Jelani Woods*
Bowen’s Analysis: Is there room for four tight ends? I continue to think so.
Offensive Line (13/9/8): Ryan Ven Damark*, Wesley French*, Will Fries, Dennis Kelly, Ryan Kelly, Alex Mollette*, Jordan Murray, Quenton Nelson, Danny Pinter, Matt Pryor, Bernhard Raimann*, Josh Seltzner*, Braden Smith
Bowen’s Analysis: How the Colts handle the offensive line depth will continue to be an offseason storyline. I could see this position adding a name during the waiver claim period. For now, I’ll toss French in there for a 9th guy. A knee injury has sidelined Kelly for the bulk of camp.
Defensive Line (15/9/11): Ben Banogu, Curtis Brooks*, DeForest Buckner, Kameron Cline, Byron Cowart, Bryan Cox, Eric Johnson*, Tyquan Lewis, R.J. McIntosh, Yannick Ngakoue, Dayo Odeyingbo, Ifeadi Odeingbo, Kwity Paye, Grover Stewart, Chris Williams
Bowen’s Analysis: I always find myself torn on the defensive line. I can hear cases to be made for Banogu, McIntosh and Williams, who is hurt right now. Even Cline has shown something in camp. I like what Odeingbo has shown, and he has a nice history in the league. This is not a group I feel comfortable predicting.
Linebackers (9/6/6): JoJo Domann*, Zaire Franklin, Brandon King, Shaquille Leonard, Bobby Okereke, Forrest Rhyne*, James Skalski*, EJ Speed, Sterling Weatherford*
Bowen’s Analysis: Ever since the spring, I’ve gone with the undrafted free agent in Domann to make the team. There might be room for another undrafted linebacker. King is thought to be a special teams guy, more so than helping at linebacker. Leonard’s lingering health situation could be a factor here, too.
Cornerbacks (11/5/7): Tony Brown, Anthony Chesley, Brandon Facyson, Dallis Flowers*, Stephon Gilmore, Kenny Moore, Alexander Myres, Isaiah Rodgers, Marvell Tell, Chris Wilcox
Bowen’s Analysis: The cornerback group has been pretty healthy this camp. I don’t have a ton of debate here. Getting Flowers on the practice squad is something to explore.
Safeties (8/6/3): Julian Blackmon, Nick Cross*, Marcel Dabo*, Trevor Denbow*, Rodney McLeod, Will Redmond, Rodney Thomas*, Armani Watts
Bowen’s Analysis: By no means is Thomas, a 7th round pick in 2022, a lock to make this team. You could take his roster spot, or Redmond’s, and give it to another name at linebacker or defensive line. But I think having 11 defensive backs is important for special teams.
Specialists (4/3/3): K-Rodrigo Blankenship, LS-Luke Rhodes, P-Rigoberto Sanchez, K-Jake Verity
Bowen’s Analysis: We will continue to monitor the kicking battle between Blankenship and Verity. Certainly, a kicker could be added by the Colts at the end of this month.
