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INDIANAPOLIS – In a week where a stunning retirement has dominated the storylines, the Colts do have one more preseason game left to play.
That comes Thursday night in Cincinnati, with the Colts and Bengals meeting at 7:00 PM.
Here are 7 things to watch for in Week Four of the preseason.
1. Parris Campbell’s First Action?
Honestly, this is easily the most impactful regular season storyline for Thursday night.
Parris Campbell has practiced just twice in a month (this past Monday and Tuesday), but it sounds like the Colts feel comfortable to give him some reps against the Bengals.
If healthy and up to full speed, Campbell can obviously greatly impact how the Colts look offensively this season, even in a limited role.
We saw Campbell back returning kicks during this week’s practices, too, so that could play a role in how a guy like Zach Pascal is viewed on the 53-man roster.
I’m eager to see Campbell’s first NFL game action, even if he’s just on the field for a few snaps.
2. Same Plan With The Starters
The starters will not play in Thursday’s preseason finale, and Frank Reich said the Colts will rest a few more guys than just the 22 starters.
So, the vast majority of the starters will have a 3-week break from their last preseason game action (August 16th) until the regular season opener (September 8th).
We saw the offense have 3 series led by Jacoby Brissett this preseason.
Darius Leonard, and the top-end defensive starters, were on the field for 2 series this preseason.
It’s clear that health in the preseason was priority No. 1 for Reich and the Colts. For the most part, the Colts achieved that.
3. Fourth Tight End Debate
This might be the truest head-to-head battle left: Ross Travis vs. Hale Hentges.
It was last year’s preseason finale, when Travis looked to be making his way onto the 53-man roster before he tore his ACL with two minutes remaining in the game.
Travis is the higher ceiling, more of the receiving type option.
Hentges is known for his blocking, showing some consistency in the passing game as well.
With the Colts wanting to emphasize the run so much in 2019, does that favor Hentges finding a spot on the 53-man roster?
4. Chad Kelly vs. Phillip Walker
Thursday will be Chad Kelly’s final game action until at least Week 3 of the regular season, as he heads to the suspension list for the first two weeks of the regular season.
Will the Colts start Kelly again on Thursday, after Phillip Walker was the first one into the game in Weeks 1 and 2 of the preseason?
This might sound crazy, but is there any hesitancy to exposing Walker too much on Thursday, considering he might be Jacoby Brissett’s backup in the first two games of the season?
The Colts can (and should) claim or sign a new QB this weekend to backup Brissett, so that would mean that keeping Walker healthy through Thursday isn’t as pressing as it is right now, on paper.
5. No Last Injury
The Colts could probably cut their roster down to 50 or 51 guys pretty safely right now. And we know they are holding out around half of those guys that will make the final roster on Thursday.
Still, you will have guys suiting up on Thursday that probably have a pretty secure spot on the 53-man roster.
What happens if they get hurt?
That would cause a bit of a domino effect on how the Colts then handle their 53-man roster. We saw it last year with TE-Ross Travis getting hurt in the preseason finale.
6. Any Offensive Line Depth?
The starting offensive line is healthy and practicing together.
That’s the good news.
But the depth up front front has looked shaky in the preseason.
Even with struggles from Josh Andrews and Le’Raven Clark this preseason, those two are still very likely to make the team. So, too, should the versatile Joe Haeg.
But does Chris Ballard see a 9th or 10th guy up front? Is the waiver wire a place to try and improve the O-line depth this weekend?
7. Undrafted Guys Clinging To One Final Chance
Hale Hentges is the best, and perhaps only, realistic bet to continue the streak.
For 20 straight seasons, the Colts have had at least one undrafted free agent make their Week 1 roster.
But if it’s not Hentges, it looks like that streak will come to an end.
The other options: RB-Aca’Cedric Ware, RB-Marquis Young, WR-Penny Hart, WR-Ashton Dulin, DT-Johnny Robinson, DT-Sterling Shippy, CB-Shakial Taylor, CB-Isaiah Langley, S-Micah Abernathy, S-Jacob Thieneman, K-Cole Hedlund.
