Indianapolis Colts Have a Crowded Back Field

The injury bug has stung the Indianapolis Colts fairly early in the preseason, with a few areas of the team dealing with season-ending injuries to both starters and reserve players. One of those areas beaten-up already is the Colts’ running back lineup.

The Colts have spent draft picks on running backs in three straight years, but have not quite found a big-play back to take the bulk of the carries. Even after bringing in free agent back Mewelde Moore, the Colts find themselves with a full running back roster, but still without a clear starter. Moore, as well as second-year player Delone Carter, have both found themselves with nagging rib injuries after the first preseason game. Going into Pittsburgh on Sunday will be no walk in the park either. As the Colts wrap up their final few days of training camp, they must keep hopes up that no other injuries will hinder their stacked back roster any further. even if these limiting injuries are minor, the Steelers will be licking their chops to take a shot at these young and bruised running backs.

Third-year player, Donald Brown, is slated as the starting back for the Colts offense. Brown has had a slow start to his career, but did have a breakaway toucdown on Sunday, catching a screen pass for a score on Andrew Lucks’ first pass as a pro. The Colts also have a hometown back on the roster in the form of former Warren Central High School player, Darren Evans. Evans fumbled once last Sunday, but bounced back with a short touchdown score. Indianapolis also drafted running back Vick Ballard in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL Draft.

The coaching staff will have to trim down the running back roster, before the start of the regular season, but not by much. As is obvious by the injuries early in the preseason, and in today’s multi-back NFL, it’s better to have the bodies and not need them, then to need the backs and not have them.