The Colts head into the final week of the preseason with a few jobs still up for grabs, and the next few practices plus one more exhibition game should start sorting out the picture. If they don’t, Indianapolis is staring at some tough calls on the depth chart and the back end of the roster.
The biggest open question may be the backup quarterback spot. Anthony Richardson and Riley Leonard have both shown flashes, but neither has put together a clean, consistent run.
Richardson has stood out in a different way: in preseason games, he’s been able to extend plays, turn sacks into positive yardage and give the offense a wrinkle defenses have to account for. That could end up separating him from Leonard.
Shane Steichen said last week that he does not have a timetable for making the decision.
Kicker is another spot still waiting for clarity. In practice, Blake Grupe has been the more reliable option, and not by a small margin.
But in preseason games, Shrader has been perfect so far, while Grupe has yet to attempt a kick. Special teams coordinator Brian Mason said preseason kicks will "carry the most weight" in the evaluation.
At linebacker, Akeem Davis-Gaither appears set to claim one starting job, though he has not played in a preseason game yet. The real competition is for the spot next to him, with Jaylon Carlies and CJ Allen the likeliest candidates. Carlies seems to have the edge at the moment, but Lou Anarumo said earlier in training camp that he is open to a rotation, even during the season.
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Anthony Richardson Just Got A Huge Colts Chance He Can't Waste
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Jones and Jonathan Taylor will not play, which shifts even more attention onto Richardsons stretch of work at the end of camp. His future in Indianapolis has already become a talking point because of the competition for the backup job, and this game gives him a chance to make a clean, final impression before the roster decisions tighten up. [Read more 🡒]