The Indianapolis Colts officially wrap up a big segment of the offseason training program with the conclusion of organized team activities on Thursday.
The Colts still have a three-day mandatory minicamp next week, which signifies the end of the spring workouts. While there wasn’t a whole lot of news coming out of OTAs, we still learned some things.
Here are five takeaways from Colts’ OTAs in 2019:
Andrew Luck might not participate for the whole spring
The Colts have had their franchise quarterback sit on the sidelines for the entire phase of OTAs, which spanned across three weeks. Dealing with a nagging calf strain, the Colts are taking it week to week without pushing the issue.
With Luck having missed OTAs, the hope is that he will be returning to the field for minicamp following a re-evaluation of his calf. However, there is still a chance the Colts sit him out to make sure he’s ready for training camp.
Even if that happens, head coach Frank Reich is comfortable with Luck missing the final month of spring workouts if it means he will be under center for minicamp.
Ben Banogu seeing time mostly at DE
The Colts were fond of selecting Banogu in the second round of the draft for many reasons. His versatility to work all over the front seven was one of them. And while the Colts have discussed starting him out at SAM linebacker, he’s worked almost exclusively at defensive end.
There is a chance things will change when the pads come on during training camp—which begins around July 25—but for now it seems Banogu’s spot is working as a second-team defensive end.
The Colts will likely continue moving him around the front seven to best utilize his athleticism, but where he lines up will certainly be a storyline to watch during training camp.
WR competition still heating up
The Colts are set to have several position battles on the docket for training camp and the preseason. This includes the wide receiver position, which is just beginning to heat up.
No one has really separated themselves from the pack yet. Big-bodied Devin Funchess has flashed a bit during the early portion of OTAs while Chester Rogers is having a strong spring. Rookie Parris Campbell has seen most of his work on the second team.
The Colts will have plenty of competition to watch during training camp, but OTAs hasn’t provided much of an update where the position currently stands at the end of it.
Rookies seeing mostly second-team work
With more depth on the roster than there has been in recent years, the Colts might find it difficult to immediately find a role for a rookie on either side of the ball. This has led to most of the group working on the second team during OTAs.
Some rookies have seen some first-team work. Wide receiver Parris Campbell and linebacker E.J. Speed—filling in for Darius Leonard—have been the rookies to see some time on the first team at their respective positions. Linebacker Ben Banogu has also rotated in at times.
Still learning the playbook, the Colts don’t need to rush the rookies into impactful roles like they have in recent seasons. Allowing them to develop in their own time is key, but that also means sometimes they won’t see time on the field.
Nate Hairston was a big winner of OTAs
This is a crucial time for Hairston, who was once thought of as a future piece in the secondary. After a rough 2018 season that saw him play no more than six snaps in any game following the team’s bye week, Hairston has shown out in OTAs.
The Temple product has been seeing more reps as the fourth cornerback in the room over guys like Jalen Collins and rookie Rock Ya-Sin, per Kevin Bowen of 1070 The Fan.
Hairston has done well grabbing a few picks throughout OTAs. He will need to continue riding this momentum through minicamp and then eventually through training camp and the preseason games if he wants to secure that roster spot.
