Insider roster analysis: Colts still thin in several spots after cutting to 53
INDIANAPOLIS — The Colts, like the rest of the NFL, made a flurry of moves on Tuesday to finish the painful process of reducing the roster from 90 players to 53. And it remains clear that the team’s work is far from over. An already-young Indianapolis roster has clear needs for at least one wide receiver and experienced depth on the offensive line, along with the potential to add players at running back, defensive end, cornerback and special teams if the right opportunity arises.
The good news is the Colts have opportunity. By virtue of the ugly 4-12-1 finish that allowed Chris Ballard and Shane Steichen to draft Anthony Richardson with the No. 4 pick in April, Indianapolis also has the No.
4 spot on the waiver wire, allowing the Colts to pick and choose from the hundreds of players who just hit the waiver wire. Expect Indianapolis to make at least a couple of waiver claims, and potentially a couple of outside signings outright, because veterans are not exposed to the waiver wire. Here is a look at the Colts roster, as of 4 p.
m. Tuesday: Quarterbacks (3) Anthony Richardson, Gardner Minshew, Sam Ehlinger Roster moves: None Analysis: Indianapolis could still decide to waive Ehlinger if room is needed for a waiver claim or outside signing, but ultimately, the decision to keep their developmental backup is unsurprising, given the NFL’s new rules allowing a third quarterback to play, even if inactive, in the event both regulars get hurt. Richardson, the prized rookie, is the starter and star attraction; Minshew is here to help Richardson develop and play in a pinch.
Doyel: Colts don't trade Jonathan Taylor, so we're stuck in nightmare of his creation Running backs (3) Zack Moss, Deon Jackson, Evan Hull Roster moves: Jonathan Taylor placed on reserve/PUP; Jake Funk, Jason Huntley waived; Kenyan Drake released Analysis: Losing Taylor for at least the first four games robs the position of its explosiveness, and it wouldn’t be too surprising to see the Colts make a move for a running back cut loose from another team. Moss’ timetable to return from a broken arm puts him back in the lineup right around the season opener, and Jackson and Hull have made their marks mostly at receiver, although Jackson has been given ample opportunities to run between the tackles in training camp with Taylor and Moss unavailable. Wide receivers (4) Michael Pittman Jr.
, Alec Pierce, Josh Downs, Isaiah McKenzie Roster moves: D. J. Montgomery, Amari Rodgers, Mike Strachan, Kody Case, Tyler Adams waived; Breshad Perriman, Vyncint Smith, James Washington, Juwann Winfree released Analysis: The Colts have to make a claim or a signing at wide receiver, particularly somebody who can play the outside.
Four receivers isn’t enough for an NFL team on Sundays, and the decision comes after an offseason where Indianapolis stockpiled low-cost receivers with some level of experience, hoping to catch lightning in a bottle with one. Instead, none of the veterans stood out in training camp, and the Colts lost Ashton Dulin to injury, leaving a gaping hole behind the trio of young receivers — Pittman Jr. , Pierce and Downs — who are expected to play the biggest roles in the offense.
Tight ends (5) Mo Alie-Cox, Jelani Woods, Kylen Granson, Drew Ogletree, Will Mallory Roster moves: Ricky Seals-Jones placed on injured reserve; Michael Jacobson, Nick Eubanks waived; Pharaoh Brown released Analysis: Athletically, Woods seems best-suited to play the primary tight end role in Steichen’s offense, but he’s been sidelined most of the offseason due to hamstring injuries. Mallory is likely a developmental player at this point, albeit a developmental player who looks like he could be a downfield threat at receiver. Alie-Cox, at this point in his career, is an in-line blocker, and both Granson and Ogletree represent valuable chess pieces who seem tailor-made for different roles — Granson as receiver, Ogletree as a do-everything — in the Colts offense.
Offensive line (9) Bernhard Raimann, Quenton Nelson, Ryan Kelly, Will Fries, Braden Smith, Blake Freeland, Arlington Hambright, Carter O’Donnell, Wesley French Roster moves: Danny Pinter placed on injured reserve; Dakoda Shepley, Emil Ekiyor, Matthew Vanderslice waived; Dan Skipper released Analysis: The Colts can likely find more experienced offensive line depth on the waiver wire, considering that the four players they kept have just one career start between them, and it was Hambright’s in Chicago. The loss of Pinter, who was Kelly’s primary backup the past three seasons, puts pressure on Indianapolis to find a backup center. Hambright, the big riser in training camp, can play inside and outside, but if the Colts lose one member of a starting five that is already trying to recapture its reputation after a down season, the results could be disastrous.
Defensive line (10) DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart, Kwity Paye, Samson Ebukam, Dayo Odeyingbo, Tyquan Lewis, Adetomiwa Adebawore, Taven Bryan, Eric Johnson, McTelvin Agim Roster moves: Titus Leo placed on injured reserve; Khalid Kareem, Caleb Sampson waived; Al-Quadin Muhammad released Analysis: The Colts arguably have more defensive tackles on their roster than they can play, especially considering that Buckner has always been an iron man who plays roughly 75% of the snaps and Odeyingbo, Lewis and Adebawore figure to play critical roles as interior pass rushers. If Indianapolis adds players at other positions, a spot could come from the trio of Bryan, Agim and Johnson. The Colts also might want a little more speed on the outside as depth, which could lead to a claim; Paye and Ebukam are the only two true “speed” players on the initial roster.
Linebackers (6) Shaquille Leonard, Zaire Franklin, E. J. Speed, Grant Stuard, Cameron McGrone, Segun Olubi Roster moves: JoJo Domann placed on injured reserve; Liam Anderson, Donavan Mutin waived Analysis: The key to this group is the return of Leonard, who is expected back soon from a concussion.
If Leonard is able to come back from his injury and get back to his turnover-producing ways, the linebacking corps should be one of the strengths of the team. Initially, the other three players will make most of their contributions on special teams. Cornerbacks (6) Kenny Moore II, Darrell Baker Jr.
, Dallis Flowers, JuJu Brents, Jaylon Jones, Tony Brown Roster moves: Darius Rush, Isaac Taylor-Stuart, Kevin Toliver waived Analysis: The decision to waive Rush came as something of a shock. The fifth-round pick from South Carolina battled injuries throughout the offseason and into training camp, but Rush had the best ball skills of any of the Colts’ young cornerbacks. And it’s a remarkably young group outside of Moore, who believes he’ll bounce back in Gus Bradley’s defensive scheme this year.
Baker and Flowers, the two presumed starters on the outside, are both former undrafted free agents in their second seasons, and Brents and Jones are a pair of rookies. Brown will make most of his impact on special teams. Safeties (4) Julian Blackmon, Rodney Thomas II, Nick Cross, Trevor Denbow Roster moves: Henry Black, Marcel Dabo waived; Ronnie Harrison, Teez Tabor released Analysis: Indianapolis brought in a trio of veterans to push its young group of safeties, but in the end, there was little movement at the position throughout camp.
Blackmon, the “old man” of the group as heads into his fourth season, is flanked by three players who are all in just their second season in the NFL. Nick Cross is a critical depth piece; the Colts see him as the primary backup at both safety positions and behind Moore in the nickel. Specialists (3) Matt Gay, Rigoberto Sanchez, Luke Rhodes Roster moves: Lucas Havrisik waived Analysis: The Colts tried to take advantage of a budding kicker market by shopping Havrisik, but the young kicker’s lack of track record didn’t help — the two kickers traded Tuesday were Wil Lutz and Nick Folk, both experienced kickers.
Frustrated by years of uncertainty at kicker going to Adam Vinatieri’s final season in 2019, Indianapolis signed Gay to big money in the offseason to make sure it didn’t have to worry about any of its specialists this year. .