Colts Final 53-Man Roster Projection
Running Back: Frank Gore, Robert Turbin, Jordan Todman
Released: RB’s Josh Ferguson, Stevan Ridley
Overview: The Colts are solid at the starting spot with Frank Gore, it’s just a matter of who’s playing behind him right now.
Robert Turbin hasn’t been great in preseason, but he’d at least give the Colts a known veteran commodity in their backfield.
Through 4 preseason games, Turbin rushed for 60 rushing yards on 18 carries (3.3 ypc avg). His red zone fumble in the preseason finale hurt his stock, but not enough to potentially jeopardize his roster spot by any means.
With their 3rd running spot, the Colts will elect to go with a backup running back who’s been both productive in preseason and has shown the ability to play special teams. Surprise sleeper Jordan Todman, who’s actually been the team’s most productive running back rushing the football this preseason with 13 carries for 57 rushing yards (4.4 ypc avg), as well as serving as a special teams returnman.
The Colts were expecting prized undrafted rookie free agent Josh Ferguson to make their backfield; however, Ferguson has been brutal rushing the football, carrying the football 19 times for just 15 total rushing yards (0.79 ypc avg)–i.e. more carries than rushing yards.
It hasn’t been all bad for Ferguson, who’s shown his special ability to catch-and-run in the last two games with 8 receptions for 61 receiving yards. However, receiving ability alone isn’t enough to justify keeping a young running back on the roster, who hasn’t shown much elsewhere–especially with all the injuries on the roster.
Otherwise, the Colts brought in veteran Stevan Ridley for a look this week, but his Colts debut didn’t go very well with 9 rushes for just 11 rushing yards (1.2 ypc avg) and a 4th quarter screen pass drop that may have been an easy touchdown with a calvary of willing blockers ahead.
It would be hard to justify keeping Ridley on the roster, unless the Colts were simply going off his name brand recognition and past track record because both Todman and even Ferguson played better.
