Colts Roster Projection: Offense

Now that the Colts are three games deep into the preseason, it’s time for them to make some cuts. Here are some projections on who I think will be cut, and who will keep a job on the team.

Roster cuts are the toughest part of the preseason. So many players have worked hard to keep a paying job in the NFL, but you can only have a 53 man roster. Offensively, the cuts are especially hard at the tight end position. Here are who I think deserves to stay and who needs to be let go.

At quarterback, some might think the Colts could keep three on the roster as insurance against another Andrew Luck injury. That doesn’t seem likely. Even though Philip Walker has looked good at times, he will get cut. He should be on the practice squad though. So Luck and Jacoby Brissett will be the only QB’s on the roster.

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Running back is interesting because Robert Turbin is suspended for the first four games of the year. That means he won’t count against the roster until week 5. It seems likely with Marlon Mack still hurt that the team keeps Christine Michael and both rookies, Jordan Wilkins and Nyheim Hines, on the roster until week 5.

Wide receiver is a little tougher to project. T.Y. Hilton, Ryan Grant, and Chester Rogers are the only sure things. Deon Cain is on IR so he doesn’t count against the roster either. They will probably only keep five receivers on the roster, so that means two are left to stay. I think those two will be Zach Pascal and K.J. Brent. Pascal made some nice catches last game and looks like he might have something to give the Colts. Brent is a toss up and could get replaced by Reece Fountain who was a fifth round pick. That being said, I think Fountain, Seantavius Jones, Krishawn Hogan, and Steve Ishmael are shown the door.

Tight end is much harder because most of them have shown good things. Jack Doyle and Eric Ebron are locks, but after that it’s much murkier. I think they should keep Erik Swoope and Ross Travis as well, meaning Darrell Daniels and Mo Alie-Cox are gone. Swoope has looked good so far this year and I like Travis’ upside as well.

Offensive line is also hard to project because that unit suffers so many injuries. The starters who are locked in are Anthony Castonzo, Quenton Nelson, Ryan Kelly, and Matt Slauson. After that, it’s a crapshoot on who makes the roster. I think rookie Braden Smith stays as well, and so does Joe Haeg and Deyshawn Bond. Denzelle Good probably does too. That leaves one spot with Le’Raven Clark, Jeremy Vujnovich, J’Marcus Webb and Austin Howard fighting over it.

Clark has had a bad camp and is as good as gone. He never lived up to his 3rd round billing. Howard looked absolutely horrendous against the Niners. Same with Webb for the first two games. Vujnovich has hardly played. Based on all of that, Howard gets the nod. The Colts hope he won’t have to play, but he gets a job.

Next. Colts vs. 49ers postgame grades: Special Teams. dark

Roster cuts are hard on everyone. It’ll be interesting to see who stays and who goes.

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