Colts’ 53-man roster projection: Declaring a winner in the kicker competition

Running backs (3)

In: Jonathan Taylor, Seth McGowan (R), Ulysses Bentley IV
Out: DJ Giddens, Anderson Castle (R)

Obviously, Taylor is expected to shoulder the bulk of the workload for the Colts’ running backs. The three-time Pro Bowler is coming off a 2025 campaign in which he led the league in total TDs (20). McGowan has clearly won the second-string job thanks to his physicality and reliable hands out of the backfield. It feels weird to cut Giddens, a 2025 fifth-round pick for Bentley, a 2025 UDFA, but Bentley has been more available than Giddens, who dealt with a hamstring injury throughout training camp, and Bentley has arguably the best hands of Indy’s running backs.

Wide receivers (6)

In: Alec Pierce, Josh Downs, Keenan Allen, Ashton Dulin, Laquon Treadwell, Deion Burks (R)
Out: Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Coleman Owen, Anthony Gould, Sahmir Hagans (R), Eli Pancol, Raylen Sharpe (R), Ben Nikkel, D.J. Montgomery

The Colts bolstered their receiver room by signing Allen to a one-year deal. The six-time Pro Bowler brings a wealth of production and experience to Indianapolis, where he’s reunited with Steichen, who was his offensive coordinator with the Chargers in 2019 and 2020. Allen will likely start alongside Pierce, who recently returned to practice after undergoing left ankle and heel surgery, and Downs.

In my last 53-man roster projection, I had Westbrook-Ikhine over Treadwell, but Westbrook-Ikhine has tapered off in recent practices, while Treadwell has taken some first-string reps. Treadwell also has more special teams experience. I also have Burks making the cut over Owen because Colts special teams coordinator Brian Mason revealed that the team could turn to Dulin as a punt returner, which is why I initially kept Owen around. But if Dulin can handle those responsibilities, then perhaps Indy can take a flier on Burks, their rookie seventh-rounder.

Tight ends (4)

In: Tyler Warren, Mo Alie-Cox, Drew Ogletree, Will Mallory
Out: Pharaoh Brown, JJ Galbreath, Tyler Moore (R)

Indy’s top three tight ends aren’t up for debate. Warren, Alie-Cox and Ogletree are locks to make the roster, with Warren poised to potentially be the focal point of the Colts’ passing offense. He was that impressive in training camp before being sidelined recently due to a groin injury, which the Colts aren’t too concerned about.

Mallory suffered a right thumb injury that made me contemplate keeping him on the roster since Steichen said he could be sidelined to start the season. However, Mallory performed so well in training camp and the preseason that I think Indy can (and should) find a way to keep him around.

Offensive line (9)

In: LT Bernhard Raimann, LG Quenton Nelson, C Tanor Bortolini, RG Matt Goncalves, RT Jalen Travis, G Jalen Farmer (R), C Dalton Tucker, T Luke Tenuta, T Blake Freeland
Out: C Josh Kreutz (R), C Jimmy Morrissey, C Geno VanDeMark (R), G Josh Sills, T Nolan Rucci (R), Roy Mbaeteka (international exemption), Trey Wedig

The Colts’ starting offensive line was remarkably healthy during training camp and the preseason, with Raimann, Nelson, Bortolini, Goncalves and Travis playing every snap together but one. The one missed snap was when Travis was briefly benched for a pre-snap penalty in practice. I don’t feel great about Indy’s depth, but I couldn’t part ways with Tucker, who’s had snap issues in practice, as the backup center, since the Colts don’t really have another option. Tenuta appears to be the team’s third tackle, with Freeland offering some insurance at that position, as well.

Defensive line (10)

In: DE Laiatu Latu, DT DeForest Buckner, DT Grover Stewart, DE Arden Key, DE Micheal Clemons, DE Jaylahn Tuimoloau, DE George Gumbs Jr. (R), DE Caden Curry (R), DT Adetomiwa Adebawore, DT Colby Wooden
Out: DE Mitchell Melton (R), DE Durell Nchami, DT Cameron Ball (R), DT Tim Smith, DT Jerry Tillery

Buckner, whom Stewart nicknamed “Buck Nasty,” looks like he’s back to being the game-wrecker the Colts hoped he could still be after undergoing neck surgery last December. Indy has even experimented in practice with lining him up outside to help generate pressure. I remain worried about the Colts’ pass rush because, aside from Latu, they don’t really have another starting-caliber defensive end. Key, who’s been a rotational player in his career, will technically start with others subbing in as Indy defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo tries to find combinations that work. Wooden and Adebawore offer reinforcements at defensive tackle behind Buckner and Stewart.

Linebacker (5)

In: CJ Allen (R), Bryce Boettcher (R), Akeem Davis-Gaither, Jaylon Carlies, Austin Ajiake
Out: Tahj Chambers (R), Devin Veresuk, West Weeks (R)

Davis-Gaither and Carlies have taken the majority of the first-team reps in recent practices, which would suggest they’ll be Indy’s starting tandem in Week 1. That doesn’t mean Allen, a rookie second-round pick, can’t later assume a starting role. Calf and hamstring injuries sidelined him throughout training camp, so he’s still playing catch-up. Anarumo has also repeatedly stated that the Colts will play a slew of linebackers regardless of his starters, and those rotations could be dictated by whatever situations they face in games.

Cornerback (6)

In: Sauce Gardner, Charvarius Ward Sr., Justin Walley, Cam Taylor-Britt, Jaylon Jones, Johnathan Edwards
Out: Rob Carter Jr., Kenneth Harris (R)

Ward recently returned from a back injury, though he revealed that he’ll have to manage it all season. That’s obviously not ideal and further emphasizes the team’s need for cornerback depth behind him, Gardner and Walley as the Colts’ starting trio. Indy cut Mekhi Blackmon, who played the most snaps of any cornerback on the team last year, earlier this week after a poor showing in the preseason. Blackmon’s exit opens the door to keep Jones, a 2023 seventh-round pick who’s started 29 games in his career.

Safeties (4)

In: Cam Bynum, A.J. Haulcy (R), Hunter Wohler, Jonathan Owens
Out: Trey Washington, Juanyeh Thomas, Daniel Scott, Austin Brown (R)

Bynum will wear the green dot and call Indy’s defense this season. The free safety joked that he’ll need to get in better shape so he can relay the play calls to the entire defense before often running back into position. Haulcy, the rookie third-round pick, is poised to start alongside Bynum at strong safety. Wohler offers depth and positional versatility, while Owens is a leader on special teams.

Specialists (3)

In: K Spencer Shrader, P Rigoberto Sanchez, LS Luke Rhodes
Out: K Blake Grupe

The last time I did this exercise, I had Grupe in over Shrader, who suffered a severe knee injury last year. But Shrader closed the gap over the final couple weeks of the preseason — punctuated by a 60-yard field goal Saturday — and I think the Colts trust that when he’s fully healthy, he has more upside than Grupe, since he has the stronger leg. Sanchez, who recently inked a two-year contract extension, and Rhodes are still among the best in the league at their respective positions.