The Indianapolis Colts have taken one step into the preseason. Their game against the New England Patriots was ultimately meaningless as far as the score, but some position battles played out, especially in terms of depth. Players needed to earn their roster spots, after all.
Some made a case, though the first part of the game was brutally ugly for both teams. Indianapolis's offense, especially Anthony Richardson (again), was disgusting. At least once the starters play, things should look different.
But who is likely to win roster battles and make the team in what is a make-or-break season for many members of the organization? Some guesses are below. What is clear is that no matter who makes the team, they need to push Indy to the playoffs for the first time since 2020, or changes will need to be made.
Indianapolis Colts roster projection: Who's in and out at every position after preseason Week 1?
Quarterback (3)
QB1: Daniel Jones
QB2: Anthony Richardson
QB3: Riley Leonard
The starter is clear here, of course. No matter how much Jones plays in the preseason, he is the guy. The issue happens if he gets injured again.
His likely backup, unless a trade happens, will be Richardson. The team has hinted that AR5 will be QB2 since training camp began. As much as the Colts like to say they are working on a rotation, the truth is Richardson got the first QB2 reps in camp and had the first start in training camp.
The team clearly wants him to win the backup spot, no matter how poorly fans see him play, which they did against the Pats. Richardson was awful, with a couple of good runs, but poor ball security and more inaccurate passing. That said, Leonard began his half of football with an interception, so let's just hope Jones stays healthy.
Running back (3)
Starter: Jonathan Taylor
Backups: Seth McGowan, DJ Giddens
Practice squad: Ulysses Bentley IV, Anderson Castle
Most teams keep three tailbacks on the roster in today's NFL. Unless an RB is special, like Jonathan Taylor, most backs can be rotated in and out without much falloff. That might sound harsh, but that is just the way current offenses are structured.
McGowan has had an excellent camp and didn't do anything to diminish the thought that he would be Taylor's backup in real games. Giddens might be fine, but he is simply not the bulkier backup Indy needs.
Wide receiver (6)
WR1: Alec Pierce
WR2 : Josh Downs
WR3: Ashton Dulin
Backups: Anthony Gould, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Laquon Treadwell
Practice squad: Anthony Gould
Last season, Indianapolis kept six receivers, too, but there is a catch in the list. That is, Gould might not be getting many pass targets, but he will probably be a key figure at a spot at the bottom of this list.
Indianapolis could, and likely should, add another wideout here. Possibly by signing veteran Keenan Allen, who some might be surprised hasn't already signed with Indy due to his experience working previously with Shane Steichen. The reason for his not signing yet remains a mystery.
Otherwise, the obvious hope is that Pierce can be healthy by Week 1, and then he can be productive enough to earn the new contract that pays him nearly $120 million over the next four seasons. He has to do that, or the whole offseason will be viewed as a bust.
Tight ends (4)
Starter: Tyler Warren
Backups: Mo Alie-Cox, Will Mallory, Drew Ogletree
Practice squad: Carson Towt
Likely, not much mystery here. The Indianapolis Colts like to keep four tight ends, which could change if Steichen leaves, but it is a growing trend in the NFL. Warren will likely become the real WR2 (or even WR1), but his backups are more like glorified offensive linemen.
That isn't to be disrespectful either. Warren will be on the field a lot and is an excellent receiver. His backups are good blockers. It's a win-win for the team.
Offensive line (9)
Starters: LT Bernhard Raimann, LG Quenton Nelson, C Tanor Bortolini, RG Matt Goncalves, RT Jalen Travis
Backups: Dalton Tucker, Jimmy Morrissey, Jalen Farmer, Luke Tenuta
Practice squad: Blake Freeland
Freeland could make the roster, but the Colts only kept nine offensive linemen on the roster in 2025. That could be due to having a veteran right tackle on the roster in the person of Braden Smith, but Smith is now a part of the Houston Texans.
The starters are set, though, and Travus was good as a fill-in for Smith near the end of last season. If the only question is who will be the backup center, one can assume a team has a very good situation along the offensive line.
Defensive end/edge rusher (5)
Starters: Laiatu Latu, Arden Key
Backups: Jaylahn Tuimoloau, Micheal Clemons, Caden Curry
Practice squad: George Gumbs Jr.
What a boom-or-bust group. Latu should be fine, but Kwity Paye, who left in free agency and signed with the Las Vegas Raiders, was also a first-round choice who had a good second season but never evolved past that. Latu could follow the same path.
If that happens, the edge rushers and Chris Ballard are doomed. Indianapolis's pass rush was inconsistently weak last season and doesn't appear to be any better this season. Unless, of course, players exceed their expectations. If that happens, great.
Defensive tackle (6)
Starters: DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart
Backups: Colby Wooden, Adetomiwa Adebawore, Jerry Tillery, Derrick Nnadi
Practice squad: Cameron Ball, Tim Smith
This spot is much like the edge rushers except that Buckner and Stewart are good as long as they stay healthy. Part of the problem is that Ballard is kind of screwed, whoever takes his position if the Colts fail to make the postseason. While Buckner and Stewart are a great duo, they are both well past 30 years old.
If they get injured, the depth is iffy. If they retire after 2026, Ballard has basically raised his middle finger to the organization by not proactively making this position younger and more productive.
Inside linebackers (4)
Starters: CJ Allen, Akeem Davis-Gaither
Backups: Bryce Boettcher, Austin Ajiake
While Indianapolis rotated off-ball linebackers in and out against the Patriots, that wasn't an indication of trying to find backups. This revamped group is a bit of a mess. That doesn't mean that it can't be better than in previous years, with such leaders, who were limited in fundamental ability, as Zaire Franklin.
Allen is assumed to be a starter, but he has been hurt. Davis-Gaither has an edge for having worked under defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo's scheme before. Otherwise, the depth is a hope and, well...even more of a hope.
Cornerback (6)
Outside corner: Sauce Gardner, Charvarius Ward
Nickelback: Justin Walley
Backups: Cam Taylor-Britt, Jonathan Edwards, Jaylon Jones
If the Colts wanted to keep an extra edge rusher, for instance, they could choose to keep only five cornerbacks. But the team kept six last season in Anarumo's first year in Indy, so that is what we are going with here. That isn't a mistake either. Indianapolis had massive health concerns in 2025, so more is better now.
As long as Gardner and Ward are healthy, the group is great. Ward, however, has already been dealing with a back injury. His long-term availability is iffy. The backups are near his quality when he is playing well.
Safety (4)
Starters: Cam Bynum, Hunter Wohler
Backups: AJ Haulcy, Jonathan Owens
Practice squad: Daniel Scott
Haulcy or Wohler as the starter. That is the only real concern here. The team has a presumed productive group overall, though Wohler will need to prove he is worthy of starting over rookie Haulcy.
Ultimately, they are both rookies. Wohler had a great training camp in 2025, but he got hurt before the season and didn't play in the real games. In that aspect, he has no advantage over Haulcy in experience. Haulcy was also a third-round 2026 selection and Wohler a seventh-round choice in 2025. That could come into play.
Specialists (3)
Kicker: Blake Grupe
Punter: Rigoberto Sanchez
Long snapper: Luke Rhodes
Kick returner: Anthony Gould
Punt returner: Anthony Gould
Punter and long snapper are set. Kicker should be too, though the Indianapolis Colts seem bent on stringing out the competition between Grupe and Spencer Shrader. Grupe was more accurate in camp.
Grupe has proven to have a strong leg, while Shrader has been iffy from beyond 50 yards. At least Gould appears set as the returner. For better or worse, that is.
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