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Reviewing Indianapolis Colts rookies after the first five games

By Jacob Mummert

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) catches the ball during pregame warm-up before the game against the Detroit Lions on Saturday, August 20, 2022 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.Nfl Detroit Lions At Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) catches the ball during pregame warm-up before the game against the Detroit Lions on Saturday, August 20, 2022 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.Nfl Detroit Lions At Indianapolis Colts /
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While the Indianapolis Colts have gotten off to a rough start this season at 2-2-1, that hasn’t prevented some rookies from impressing early.

The Indianapolis Colts welcomed a draft class of eight rookies and then signed 22 undrafted free agents. This was Colts’ general manager Chris Ballard’s sixth class of rookies. Currently, Indy has all but one of their drafted rookies on the active roster. Curtis Brooks, who was drafted in the sixth round, is on the practice squad.

Four of the 22 UDFAs made the initial 53-man roster; Jojo Domann, Trevor Denbow, Dallis Flowers, and Wesley French. Currently, three of the four are on the active roster with Denbow on IR. The Colts also claimed Luke Tenuta off waivers from the Buffalo Bills to add to their assortment of rookies on the active roster.

Almost all of the rookies have seen the field minus Denbow (IR), French (AR), Brooks (PS), and Andrew Ogletree (IR). Let’s check in on how this rookie class has performed five games into the season.

Injured Reserve

Sadly some rookies have yet to see the field for the Indianapolis Colts due to season-ending injuries. Ogletree is one of the players. After having an impressive training camp he tore his ACL. The Colts drafted Ogletree with the 192nd overall pick in the sixth round out of Youngstown State, in the hopes that they could mold him into a premiere tight-end. While they still can do this, it is a tough setback for the rookie. Indy will be anxious to get him back into the fold using his size (6-foot-5, 260 pounds) to create mismatches in the red zone.

Denbow was another rookie lost to injury. The team placed him on the injured reserve list heading into the first week of the season which technically makes him eligible to return at this point in the season. The injury was undisclosed. He was signed as an undrafted free agent out of SMU coming in at 5-foot-10, 280 pounds.

Practice Squad

Indianapolis added several rookies to their practice squad filling seven of the 16 positions with first-year players. Brooks remains on the practice squad after being drafted with the 216th overall pick in the sixth round. Joining him is Marcel Dabo who was added to the team as an undrafted free agent through the NFL’s International Pathway Program. Since he is in the international program he won’t count towards the Colts’ practice squad player limit and can be elevated to the active roster if necessary.

Chris Williams (who was inactive for the only game he was called up for), D’vonte Price, and Ethan Fernea are on the practice squad after Indy signed them as undrafted free agents. Leading up to the regular season, the Colts signed Segun Olubi after they were released from the San Francisco 49ers and Darrell Baker Jr. after being released by the Arizona Cardinals. Both were signed as UDFAs in the offseason. None of the players listed in this section have seen action yet in the regular season.

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