The Indianapolis Colts are halfway through training camp and will have their first preseason game on Thursday, Aug. 8 against the Buffalo Bills, which means it’s getting to be crunch time for those trying to make the roster.
There is still a lot of time left between this point in training camp and when the rosters are reduced from 90 to 53 players, which means a lot can and will change over that time period.
Regardless, we can still look at the roster and take the information we’ve gathered throughout training camp and make an educated guess as to who will make the roster.
Here’s a crack at our updated 53-man roster projection halfway through training camp:
Offense — Defense — Special Teams
Offense (24)
| Pos. | First | Second | Third | Fourth |
| QB | Andrew Luck | Jacoby Brissett | ||
| RB | Marlon Mack | Nyheim Hines | Jordan Wilkins | Jonathan Williams |
| WR | T.Y. Hilton | Chester Rogers | Parris Campbell | |
| WR | Devin Funchess | Zach Pascal | Deon Cain | |
| TE | Jack Doyle | Eric Ebron | Mo Alie-Cox | |
| LT | Anthony Castonzo | Le’Raven Clark | ||
| LG | Quenton Nelson | Evan Boehm | ||
| C | Ryan Kelly | Josh Andrews | ||
| RG | Mark Glowinski | |||
| RT | Braden Smith | Joe Haeg |
Observations:
- Two quarterbacks are all they need as long as Luck is healthy, which they believe he will be.
- I’m coming around on six wide receivers (rather than five) given how much the Colts needed them last year. Cain and Pascal get in, but guys like Marcus Johnson, Daurice Fountain and Krishawn Hogan are competing well.
- Three tight ends is still where they will stay as long as Doyle is healthy. Don’t be surprised if undrafted free agent Hale Hentges sticks around the practice squad.
- I wouldn’t be surprised if 10 offensive linemen are kept instead of nine. Chris Ballard has specifically used that number on multiple occasions. But with an extra wide receiver, the offensive line gets one player taken away.
- It also wouldn’t be too big of a surprise if the Colts kept Garcia on the roster amid the cuts that way they can place him on the suspended list before the season. In order to do that, he has to be on the initial 53.
Offense — Defense — Special Teams
Defense (26)
| Pos. | First | Second | Third | Fourth |
| DE | Jabaal Sheard | Al-Quadin Muhammad | Ben Banogu* | |
| DT (1T) | Margus Hunt | Grover Stewart | ||
| DT (3T) | Denico Autry | Tyquan Lewis | Jihad Ward | |
| DE | Justin Houston | Kemoko Turay | ||
| WILL | Darius Leonard | E.J. Speed* | ||
| MIKE | Anthony Walker | Bobby Okereke* | ||
| SAM | Matthew Adams | Zaire Franklin | ||
| CB | Kenny Moore | Quincy Wilson | Nate Hairston | |
| CB | Pierre Desir | Rock Ya-Sin* | Marvell Tell* | |
| SAF | Malik Hooker | Clayton Geathers | Khari Willis | George Odum |
Observations
- The Colts will keep at least eight defensive linemen for the rotation, and we have 10 here. It might be a lot, but I just can’t see them parting ways with Jihad Ward given his potential in the front.
- Keeping six linebackers is probably a given. While nickel packages will keep most of them off the field for the majority of the time, they will all have special teams value, especially for guys like Franklin, Speed and Adams.
- Cornerback depth is a must, which is why they will keep six. It still doesn’t make it any easier deciding between Marvell Tell and Jalen Collins. The deciding factor was between special teams ability and the fact that Tell probably wouldn’t make it through waivers.
- Keeping four safeties might feel light with the injury history, but I’d rather have more cornerbacks in the secondary. Tell and Wilson can even provide safety help in a pinch.
Offense — Defense — Special Teams
Special Teams (3)
| Pos. | Starter | Second Team |
| P | Rigoberto Sanchez | |
| K | Adam Vinatieri | Rigoberto Sanchez |
| LS | Luke Rhodes | |
| KO | Rigoberto Sanchez | Adam Vinatieri |
| H | Rigoberto Sanchez | |
| PR | Chester Rogers | Nyheim Hines |
| KR | Jordan Wilkins | Zach Pascal |
Observations
- The trio in Sanchez, Vinatieri and Rhodes will return for another season. They are set in stone barring injuries and should produce well again.
- The return team is where the madness starts. The punt returners will continue to work through the depth chart, but Rogers is a safe option to throw back there.
- The kick returners are likely some mixture of Wilkins, Pascal, Hines, Rogers and maybe another electric player.
