Colts players on the roster bubble after first preseason game
By Brad Marr
These Indianapolis Colts players could find themselves on the outside of the roster looking in after the team does its final cuts.
With the 2022 NFL preseason officially underway, the demand to showcase that you belong on an NFL roster is at its peak. Especially since teams have to make the first round of cuts by Tuesday, August 16. Across the NFL, teams are currently allowed to carry 90 active players on the roster. The first wave of cuts begins on August 16, as teams slim the rosters down to 85 players. Then again, on August 23, rosters move from 85 to 80.
Final roster cuts will take place after the 4 pm designation on Wednesday, August 31, as team rosters will be holding a final 53 players. Filling up the practice squad will be the shift of focus, once the deadline occurs.
What does this mean for the Indianapolis Colts?
Position battles are happening amongst every team during training camp and will be showcased during the preseason games. Players that are making their case heard for playing time are the ideal focus of this time period in the NFL as most of the starters are basically already set in stone.
For the Colts, there are only a few positions that will be holding new faces in 2022. After an exciting offseason of acquiring talent at major positions, there will also be a number of players that will see their time in Indy end.
Figuring out the depth chart behind the starters is key in this next phase. Although the current rosters are heavy, the Colts could snag players that are released from elsewhere to add for 2022. Meaning that just because you don’t make it here, you can’t find a place somewhere else.
Some players that are possibly looking at their final days in Indy will be covered here.
WR Mike Strachan
In 2021, Indy’s fans were raving for Mike Strachan to seek more playing time and even the media lingered with questions about the wideout in the latter of the season. The time has come once again for the 6-foot-5 receiver out of Charlotte to take the crowd by storm.
Although it could be too early to count Strachan completely out of the final roster, the Colts’ receiving room didn’t get any easier after adding rookie sensation Alec Pierce who has had an outstanding camp thus far battling it out with former DPOY Stephon Gilmore.
Strachan is currently on the PUP list after having an offseason knee surgery. If he remains on the PUP list or returns and has a slow, unproductive camp, it could mean another year of holding out hope for fans in blue. But it’s likely the Colts either move on from the Megatron look alike or stash him out on the practice squad. Either way, saving a final roster spot for a project player and asking a new position coach, and fellow beloved fan-favorite, Reggie Wayne, to work on, has mistake written all over it.