The next few days could go a long way in sorting out the Indianapolis Colts’ back end of the roster.
With two joint practices against the Falcons and a preseason game on deck, the team is heading into a stretch where the evaluation gets sharper and the margins get thinner. These are the kinds of settings that tend to matter more than routine camp work, and for a handful of roster hopefuls, they may be the last real chance to build momentum.
One of the clearest names to watch is running back Ulysses Bentley. With DJ Giddens sidelined, Bentley has picked up extra opportunities and made the most of them.
That has put him in position to push for a spot as the third running back, helped by the pass-catching element he brings to the backfield. That kind of skill set could fit what the Colts’ offense needs.
At wide receiver, the picture gets crowded quickly. Laquon Treadwell and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine appear to be fighting for what may be a single opening, especially after the addition of Keenan Allen.
Treadwell has generally been getting more reps and brings special teams value to the table. Westbrook-Ikhine, though, has shown more playmaking upside during the summer.
The defensive tackle battle is just as murky. Jerry Tillery and Derrick Nnadi are the names in the mix if the Colts decide to carry five players at the position, with the last spot seemingly up for grabs between them. But neither player stood out in the preseason opener, and that could even leave Indianapolis leaning toward keeping only four defensive tackles.
Jaylon Jones also finds himself in a tough spot. Right now, he looks like the seventh cornerback on the depth chart, sitting behind Cam Taylor-Britt, Mekhi Blackmon, and Johnathan Edwards in both practice and preseason usage. Teams usually don’t carry seven corners, which makes his path especially steep.
Then there’s kicker Spencer Shrader. He turned in a strong preseason game, but Blake Grupe still appears to have the edge in the competition overall.
In Other News...
Tyler Warren's Sudden Exit Has Colts Fans Watching One Big Concern
Tyler Warrens training camp momentum hit an early snag when the Colts tight end left an 11-on-11 practice rep with a groin injury and did not return. He was seen walking off the field with a noticeable limp, a sight that immediately shifted attention from his camp progress to his availability, especially with the team still sorting through the early days of preseason.
The Colts have not offered an official update yet, but the expectation is that they will take the cautious route and keep Warren out of the upcoming preseason game against the Falcons. For a player trying to establish himself in a new setting, even a short absence can matter, and the bigger question now is how quickly he can get back on the field without the issue lingering. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Face Two Tough Roster Calls As Cutdown Day Nears
The roster squeeze is starting to show for the Colts as the 53-player deadline approaches, and a recent projection from James Boyd of The Athletic put a couple of recognizable names on the bubble. Running back DJ Giddens and defensive tackle Jerry Tillery were both listed among the notable players who could be left out when the final group is set, a reminder that late August is less about upside and more about how quickly a player can stay available and fit what the staff wants.
Giddens has spent training camp dealing with a hamstring issue, which has made it hard for him to build momentum, while Tillery is trying to hold off a crowded interior line group that includes Colby Wooden and his positional flexibility. For a team trying to sort out the back end of the roster, those are the kinds of calls that can come down to health, depth and who gives the Colts the cleanest answer in more than one spot. [Read more 🡒]
Daniel Jones Is Giving Colts Fans A Reason To Reconsider Ballard
Daniel Jones arrived at Colts training camp carrying plenty of skepticism, and not just because of the move from his old team. Chris Ballards decision to bring him in on a two-year contract came with the obvious caution flag of a major injury, but the early signs out of camp have been hard to ignore. Teammates and even former coaches have taken note as Jones has begun showing the kind of timing and movement that made him an intriguing fit in the first place.
What has really changed the conversation in Indianapolis is how normal Jones has looked in drills. After spending the offseason working back from the kind of injury that can alter a quarterbacks game, he has reportedly been sharp with the ball and comfortable enough on his feet to ease some of the concern around his recovery. For a Colts front office that staked something on this bet, every positive practice rep makes the original call look a little more reasonable. [Read more 🡒]