Colts Inactives at Vikings: Dwayne Allen, Phillip Dorsett Will Play on Sunday
The Indianapolis Colts announced their inactive players ahead of Sunday’s 1 PM EST game against the Minnesota Vikings including:
"“Offensive guard Denzelle Good (concussion), cornerback Charles James, defensive lineman Art Jones (groin), wide receiver Donte Moncrief (hamstring), outside linebacker Deiontrez Mount, offensive tackle Joe Reitz (back), and safety Duke Williams.”"
Four of the team’s starters: Good, Jones, Moncrief, and Reitz were already ruled out earlier this weekend.
In Denzelle Good and Joe Reitz‘ absence along the offensive line, expect to see a starting unit of Anthony Castonzo (LT)-Jonotthan Harrison (LG)-Ryan Kelly (C)-Joe Haeg (RG)-Le’Raven Clark (RT).
Obviously, having three rookies and limited starting experience overall isn’t an ideal recipe for success against a ferocious Minnesota Vikings pass rush that ranks 4th in most sacks in the NFL with 35.0 total sacks.
Otherwise, the encouraging news is that 2nd-year wide receiver Phillip Dorsett (groin), ‘questionable’, is not inactive–which means that he’ll start alongside T.Y. Hilton as the team’s other starting wide receiver in the place of Donte Moncrief (hamstring).
Undrafted rookie wideout Chester Rogers also figures to see extended reps within the starting offense.
Likewise, another ‘questionable’ Colt, Zach Kerr (concussion), is not inactive and figures to help fill-in for starter Art Jones along the defensive line–who’s one of the team’s best run-stuffers.
Joining him should be fellow young defensive lineman Hassan Ridgeway and T.Y. McGill as part of the team’s defensive line rotation–both of whom will need to continue to step up.
The Colts could surely use Kerr and others big bodies in the lineup, as the defense figures to get a heavy dose of a Vikings ground game that includes the season return of All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson.
Additionally, two other ‘questionable’ Colts starters, tight end Dwayne Allen (hip) and rookie safety T.J. Green (ankle) are also missing from the inactive list, which means that both will presumably be in the starting lineup.
With Moncrief out and facing an aggressive Vikings’ pass rush, the Colts could opt for more two tight end sets with Allen and Doyle.
Meanwhile, Green figures to start alongside veteran safety Mike Adams with incumbent starter Clayton Geathers already declared out for the season with a neck injury earlier this week.
Lastly, it looks as though recently added cornerback Charles James, outside linebacker Deiontrez Mount, and safety Duke Williams are healthy inactives for the Colts this Sunday with positional needs more prevalent elsewhere.