The Indianapolis Colts are just a few short weeks away from returning for training camp, which officially begins on July 25.
There will be plenty to watch when training camp finally begins on both sides of the ball. With an offensive unit that is expected to be one of the top groups in the NFL, there are several storylines to keep an eye on.
Here are four offensive storylines to watch during training camp:
Who emerges in the WR room?
The biggest competition taking place on the offensive side of the ball will undoubtedly be at wide receiver. As T.Y. Hilton reprises his role as WR1, the rest of the room will compete for the secondary roles behind him.
From the WR2 to the final spots that hold special teams value, there are a handful of players competing both for solidified roles and simply a roster spot. Some have a better chance than others to make the roster: Devin Funchess, Parris Campbell, Deon Cain.
Guys like Chester Rogers, Daurice Fountain and Zach Pascal will also be fighting for roster spots.
Roles in the backfield
We know entering training camp that Marlon Mack is likely to see the most work in the backfield as the starter. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t roles to be fought for among the remaining running backs.
Second-year back Nyheim Hines is likely to be the pass-catcher on third downs. That leaves Spencer Ware, Jordan Wilkins and Jonathan Williams fighting for subsequent roles in the room.
Could that be more of a short-yardage role to keep Mack fresh, or will it be simply a change of pace? It remains to be seen, but there will be plenty of competition in the backfield.
How many quarterbacks will the Colts keep?
With Andrew Luck expected to return from the calf strain that kept him out the entire spring practices and Jacoby Brissett safely working as his backup in camp, a storyline to keep an eye on will be how many the Colts keep on the active roster.
If both Luck and Brissett stay healthy, it is most likely that the Colts will simply roll with two quarterbacks on the active roster and one on the practice squad. However, they have also said they will feel comfortable keeping three if it is warranted.
That will be up to whoever wins the competition between Phillip Walker and Chad Kelly—both of whom are entering training camp fighting for their roster lives.
Depth roles on the offensive line
The Colts roll into training camp knowing who their starters up front are. With those five returning from the stellar 2018 campaign, the Colts will now focus on who will emerge as the depth pieces behind the starters.
Almost all of the spots are up for grabs—save for maybe the backup center role, which should belong to Evan Boehm. Will Le’Raven Clark be on the roster bubble fighting for his roster spot? Will rookie Jackson Barton make something of himself as a swing tackle? Can Antonio Garcia produce enough to be kept despite an impending four-game suspension to start the season?
All of these questions will be answered when training camp and the preseason are through, and they should be a storyline to keep an eye on throughout.
