The Indianapolis Colts might not have any albatross contracts on their payroll, but that won’t prevent them from making some difficult cuts after training camp.
That, of course, is one of the downsides of flaunting a deep roster, and very few teams in the league have a more balanced squad than the one GM Chris Ballard has put together.
Every team faces this reality at this stage of the offseason, as rosters currently sit at 93 (!) players and will need to be trimmed to a max of 53 by Week 1. Some of those players will be stashed on the practice squad, while others will lose their roster spot entirely.
While we have a good idea of who will play significant roles for the Colts in 2021, it’s anyone’s guess as to which fringe players will be left standing after camp.
As deep as Indianapolis’ roster is, they have no shortage of players who will face an uphill climb once training camp gets underway. In our eyes, these three stick out among the rest.
These three Colts players face an uphill climb at training camp.
3. Rock Ya-Sin
Rock Ya-Sin would’ve landed higher on this list, but the Colts would be out of their minds to actually cut him before the start of the regular season. After all, their secondary, specifically the cornerback position, is thin and they’ll need as many bodies as possible.
With that being said, Ya-Sin faces an uphill battle at training camp in the sense that his starting spot is up for grabs after a forgettable sophomore campaign. Heck, defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus admitted there will be an open competition for the No. 2 CB spot on the outside.
Rock Ya-Sin is no longer a guaranteed starter after 2020.
Of course, Kenny Moore will start in the slot, which will leave Ya-Sin, TJ Carrie, Marvell Tell and Isaiah Rodgers to slug it out for the spot opposite Xavier Rhodes.
While last season was likely an anomaly for Ya-Sin — he surrendered a 98.7 passer rating to opposing quarterbacks, logged a 49.9 coverage grade and committed countless back-breaking penalties — he better come ready to play at training camp.
This will be a make-or-break season for Ya-Sin, and you better believe Tell, who opted out last campaign, and Rodgers, who was more of a return specialist than a cornerback as a rookie in 2020, will arrive at Grand Park with something to prove to the coaching staff.