With the end of training camp official following the joint training camp practice on Thursday, the Indianapolis Colts are set to host the Cleveland Browns at Lucas Oil Stadium for a preseason game this weekend.
The Saturday afternoon matchup should feature more playing time for the starters—roughly a quarter—and there will be a number of players looking to battle for roles at their respective positions and for some of the final roster spots.
Here are four Colts that have something to prove in preseason Week 2 against the Browns:
QB Phillip Walker
After a disastrous outing against the Buffalo Bills to open the preseason, Walker has to play some catch-up. He’s now behind both Jacoby Brissett and Chad Kelly on the quarterback depth chart with three preseason games remaining.
The main battle between Walker and Kelly will determine who the QB3 is in the room. Depending on how long starting quarterback Andrew Luck will be out rehabbing what is now an ankle injury, that role as QB3 could open the season on the 53-man roster.
Walker is fighting for his place with the Colts and has plenty to prove on Saturday when the Browns make a visit.
S Matthias Farley
Time appears to be running out for the Notre Dame product. Of course, there is still some opportunities waiting for him to make some plays, but Farley finds himself buried on the safety depth chart behind Malik Hooker, Clayton Geathers, George Odum and rookie Khari Willis.
Farley has been a solid contributor when healthy, but he’s seemingly being edged out of the roster entering the second preseason game. He must make a bigger impact in the defensive backfield over the next three games if he is going to keep his roster spot.
CB Rock Ya-Sin
This isn’t like the first two. Ya-Sin has proven time and time again he can make big plays in practice. But with a chance to earn a starting role on the outside opposite Pierre Desir in nickel packages, Ya-Sin faces a big challenge against a solid wide receiver corps.
Though it appears star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is likely to sit out due to a hip injury, Ya-Sin will still have some challenges ahead of him. If he continues to use his ball skills and physicality to his advantage, a starting role might not be too far away.
WR Deon Cain
Cain will be a player to watch throughout the entire preseason simply because his return from a torn ACL is highly anticipated. However, he has been seeing more work with the first-team offense lately, which means he’s primed to see some extended time in the preseason game.
Cain has made some flash plays during training camp and showed some solid route running during the opener against the Bills. While T.Y. Hilton and Devin Funchess are the clear starters at the top of the depth chart, Cain can begin to work his way into a solid role.
