NFL: JUL 27 Colts Training Camp
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INDIANAPOLIS – One week away, and tons of injury questions await.
It’s one giant roster cut coming a week from Tuesday, with 90-player rosters needing to be trimmed to 53 players.
Let’s project 53-man roster with one week left until roster cuts (* denotes rookie):
1. Quarterbacks (4/3): Jason Bean, Daniel Jones, Riley Leonard*, Anthony Richardson
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Quarterbacks (4/3): Jason Bean, Daniel Jones, Riley Leonard*, Anthony Richardson
Bowen’s Analysis: No real debate here with Leonard certainly above Jason Bean as the 3rd QB.
2. Running Backs (7/4) Ulysses Bentley IV*, DJ Giddens*, Tyler Goodson, Khalil Herbert, Nate Noel, Nay-Quan Wright, Jonathan Taylor
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Running Backs (7/4) Ulysses Bentley IV*, DJ Giddens*, Tyler Goodson, Khalil Herbert, Nate Noel, Nay-Quan Wright, Jonathan Taylor
Bowen’s Analysis : Good luck predicting names after Taylor and Giddens. Herbert is a veteran with a strong resume, but an injury has sidelined him for a good chunk of August. His spot isn’t a slam dunk by any means. And then Goodson getting hurt in the Green Bay games opens up a starting gunner spot, which might impact things, too. If Goodson and/or Herbert are IR candidates, perhaps it’s Bentley IV that cracks the initial 53-man roster.
3. Wide Receivers (12/6) Ajou Ajou, Josh Downs, Ashton Dulin, Anthony Gould, Tyler Kahmann*, Adonai Mitchell, Coleman Owen*, Landon Parker*, Alec Pierce, Michael Pittman Jr., Blayne Taylor*, Laquon Treadwell
NFL: AUG 22 Preseason Colts at Bengals Source:Getty
Wide Receivers (12/6) Ajou Ajou, Josh Downs, Ashton Dulin, Anthony Gould, Tyler Kahmann*, Adonai Mitchell, Coleman Owen*, Landon Parker*, Alec Pierce, Michael Pittman Jr., Blayne Taylor*, Laquon Treadwell
Bowen’s Analysis : This seems pretty straightforward to me. Gould appears to be the lead guy for punt return duties. And we know what the staff thinks of Dulin as a core special teamer. Assuming Downs is good to come back soon, the 6 is clear to me. I do like the camp Coleman Owen has had.
4. Tight Ends (7/4): Mo Alie-Cox, Will Mallory, Sean McKeon, Drew Ogletree, Tyler Warren*, Jelani Woods
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Tight Ends (7/4): Mo Alie-Cox, Will Mallory, Sean McKeon, Drew Ogletree, Tyler Warren*, Jelani Woods
Bowen’s Analysis : I can’t see keeping 5 tight ends, even though Jelani Woods has had some flashes in a healthy camp. But I can’t just see a pathway for a 5th tight end especially given the injuries elsewhere on the roster.
5. Offensive Line (14/9): Tanor Bortolini, Marshall Foerner*, Wesley French, Matt Goncalves, Marcellus Johnosn, Quenton Nelson, Danny Pinter, Bernard Raimann, Josh Sills, Braden Smith, Luke Tenuta, Jalen Travis*, Dalton Tucker, Mose Vavao
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Offensive Line (14/9): Tanor Bortolini, Marshall Foerner*, Wesley French, Matt Goncalves, Marcellus Johnosn, Quenton Nelson, Danny Pinter, Bernard Raimann, Josh Sills, Braden Smith, Luke Tenuta, Jalen Travis*, Dalton Tucker, Mose Vavao
Bowen’s Analysis : Should we expect a waiver claim at offensive tackle with Blake Freeland breaking his leg against the Packers? I think that’s a strong idea, which could impact having Tenuta making the 53-man roster. Normally, Chris Ballard is a fan of keeping 10 offensive linemen. Danny Pinter is dealing with an injury, so his status might be up in the air.
6. Defensive Line (17/9): Adetomiwa Adebawore, DeForest Buckner, Devonta Davis*, Samson Ebukam, Neville Gallimore, Marcus Haynes, Eric Johnson II, Isaiah Land, Laiatu Latu, Tyquan Lewis, Desmond Little*, Durell Nchami, Kwity Paye, Tim Smith*, Grover Stewart, JT Tuimoloau, Josh Tupou
NFL: JUL 26 Indianapolis Colts Training Camp Source:Getty
Defensive Line (17/9): Adetomiwa Adebawore, DeForest Buckner, Devonta Davis*, Samson Ebukam, Neville Gallimore, Marcus Haynes, Eric Johnson II, Isaiah Land, Laiatu Latu, Tyquan Lewis, Desmond Little*, Durell Nchami, Kwity Paye, Tim Smith*, Grover Stewart, JT Tuimoloau, Josh Tupou
Bowen’s Analysis : I’m a number short here. If you want to keep an extra edge, Land is your guy and Nchami has been a name I’ve noticed. Smith was a 6th round pick in this year’s draft class and the Colts don’t have definite defensive tackle depth answers, so he’s another one I pondered.
7. Linebackers (9/4): Austin Ajiake, Jon Bachie, Jaylon Carlies, Jake Chaney*, Solomon DeShields*, Zaire Franklin, Cameron McGrone, Segun Olubi, Joseph Vaughn*
NFL: JUL 24 Indianapolis Colts Training Camp Source:Getty
Linebackers (9/4): Austin Ajiake, Jon Bachie, Jaylon Carlies, Jake Chaney*, Solomon DeShields*, Zaire Franklin, Cameron McGrone, Segun Olubi, Joseph Vaughn*
Bowen’s Analysis : I don’t think I’ve ever had 4 linebackers on any 53-man roster. so I probably need to add one more here. But Lou Anarumo has talked a lot about using more nickel and dime personnel, so that means more defensive backs, versus linebackers. Olubi has special teams history and Aijake flashed a bit at times at Grand Park, so those would be the names to watch for.
8. Cornerbacks (11/7): JuJu Brents, Johnathan Edwards*, Xavien Howard, Alex Johnson, Jaylon Jones, Chris Lammons, B.J. Mayes, Kenny Moore II, Duke Shelley, Charvarius Ward, Samuel Womack III
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Cornerbacks (11/7): JuJu Brents, Johnathan Edwards*, Xavien Howard, Alex Johnson, Jaylon Jones, Chris Lammons, B.J. Mayes, Kenny Moore II, Duke Shelley, Charvarius Ward, Samuel Womack III
Bowen’s Analysis : Who in the world knows. Given the injury situation at cornerback, good luck accurately projecting this group. With Howard coming on board, I will put him on the 53-man roster. If you are keeping a 7th cornerback for injury insurance, then I think you consider Edwards, Shelley and Womack III. But if you feel better about health for Jones and/or Brents, maybe there’s not room for an Edwards. This position could easily have some “injured reserve to return” later in the season movement.
9. Safeties (5/4): Cam Bynum, Nick Cross, Daniel Scott, Rodney Thomas II, Trey Washington*
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Safeties (5/4): Cam Bynum, Nick Cross, Daniel Scott, Rodney Thomas II, Trey Washington*
Bowen’s Analysis : I debated 4 or 5 safeties, until the super unfortunate season-ending foot injury for Hunter Wohler in the Green Bay game. With that news, I now see definite room for Scott and Thomas II as depth pieces. This is probably another potential area to watch for a waiver claim.
10. Specialists (4/3): LS-Luke Rhodes, P-Rigoberto Sanchez, K-Spencer Shrader, Maddux Trujillo*
NFL: AUG 16 Preseason Packers at Colts Source:Getty
Specialists (4/3): LS-Luke Rhodes, P-Rigoberto Sanchez, K-Spencer Shrader, Maddux Trujillo*
Bowen’s Analysis : Again, I’ll go with Shrader winning the kicking competition over Trujillo to round out a new special team trio.