The Indianapolis Colts have concluded training camp and the preseason, and there’s now a more accurate look at the team’s depth chart.
When the Indianapolis Colts first started training camp at the end of July, we highlighted the four biggest position battles that would be settled over the course of training camp and the preseason. Now that camp is over, three preseason games have been played, and the roster has been cut down to 53 players, it’s time to look at the winners of those battles.
The battles were for Indy’s starting left tackle position, the last starting outside corner spot, the No. 2 tight end position, and the No. 2 wideout spot. Let’s take a look at who the battles came down to and who ultimately won.
Matt Pryor won the left tackle battle for Colts
Entering camp, it was expected that this battle would be between veteran Matt Pryor and talented rookie Bernhard Raimann. While that was the case, it wasn’t much of a battle. Pryor took No. 1 reps from the beginning of camp and all throughout.
Raimann flashed his talent, but it was evident that he was a rookie that needed to continue to grow. Although Pryor was inconsistent at times, Frank Reich told the media that he had earned the starting job for the Colts.
Colts have two deserving No. 2 cornerbacks
At one point during the offseason, the cornerback position was a major point of concern for Indianapolis. Now, however, it is a depth group for the Colts and that was demonstrated in the battle for the No. 2 cornerback spot.
With five-time Pro Bowler Stephon Gilmore locking up one side of the field, Brandon Facyson and Isaiah Rodgers had to battle it out for the other starting cornerback spot. Facyson ultimately won the job with his quiet yet effective coverage skills, but Rodgers’ incredible ball skills likely earned him plenty of playing time as well.
Kylen Granson held off the young tight ends
The Colts entered the year with a really deep and talented tight end room of massive athletes that are referred to as “Transformers” by their teammates. With talented rookies Jelani Woods and Drew Ogletree, many questioned if they would bump second-year tight end, Kylen Granson, from the No. 2 tight end spot.
For a while, it looked like Ogletree was on his way to doing so but he went down with an ACL injury. Granson was able to put together a solid preseason and he will enter the year as the secondary tight end behind Mo Alie-Cox and ahead of Jelani Woods.
Parris Campbell is the No. 2 for now but Alec Pierce could pass him
Both Parris Campbell and Alec Pierce will need to step up big for the Colts this season and they had moments throughout camp where it looked like them stepping up is a real possibility. Early in camp, Campbell had built a quick rapport with Matt Ryan and was consistently finding himself open. That established him as the No. 2 wide receiver.
Pierce, on the other hand, had the kind of up-and-down camp that’s common for young receivers. At times, he was incredibly dominant and in other moments, it was clear he was still just a rookie. As he continues to adjust to the game and become more consistent, he could overtake Campbell as the No. 2 wideout at some point throughout the season.
Either way, Indianapolis will need Campbell, Pierce, and all the other players named to be ready to go this season. The Colts are a team with Super Bowl aspirations and a deep roster is often necessary to accomplish that.
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