INDIANAPOLIS – It’s time for my final 53-man roster projection.
With the preseason schedule over for the 2024 Colts, roster cuts from 90 to 53 players are due by Tuesday at 4:00 PM.
On Sunday afternoon, prior to their final practice ahead of that Tuesday deadline, the Colts cut ties with 9 players to begin their cuts.
Those moves were as followed: released: WR-Tyre Cleveland, WR-Greg Ward, S-Ronnie Harrison Jr., DE-Derek Rivers; waived: QB-Kedon Slovis, WR-Derek Sywka, LB-Mike Smith JR., CB-Clay Fields III, K-Spencer Shrader.
Let’s analyze those moves, and the final Colts 53-man roster (*rookie) projection heading into roster cuts:
1. Quarterbacks (4): Jason Bean*, Sam Ehlinger, Anthony Richardson, Joe Flacco
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Quarterbacks (4/3): Jason Bean*, Sam Ehlinger, Anthony Richardson, Joe Flacco
Bowen’s Analysis: Well, some things have changed on this front in the month of August. I originally had the Colts keeping Sam Ehlinger on the 53-man roster as their 3rd QB. But the more I thought about it, thanks to the new 3rd quarterback rule, I had the Colts cutting Sam Ehlinger for the first time in his 4-year NFL career. NFL Network reported on Monday though that the 3rd QB/practice squad rule was vetoed by the NFLPA, which goes back to the 2023 rule of teams having to have that 3rd QB on the 53-man roster. Well, the Colts have never cut Ehlinger in his NFL career, so I’ll say they continue to follow this script and keep him on the 53-man roster. You are just one Anthony Richardson injury from Ehlinger being the back up, like we saw multiple times last season. This would expose Ehlinger to waivers, with the Colts hoping they can then put him on their practice squad. Has rookie Jason Bean done enough to earn a practice squad development spot, with a scout team focus and further development? I say so, assuming his shoulder injury in the preseason finale isn’t too severe. You do have 16 practice squad spots.
2. Running Backs (6): Demetric Felton, Tyler Goodson, Evan Hull, Zavier Scott, Trey Sermon, Jonathan Taylor
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Running Backs (6/4): Demetric Felton, Tyler Goodson, Evan Hull, Zavier Scott, Trey Sermon, Jonathan Taylor
Bowen’s Analysis: Do you need both Goodson and Hull on the 53-man roster? That’s debatable, but I’ll say yes with Trey Sermon’s injured hamstring approaching a two-week absence. This is probably where you’d pinch a number offensively, if you are in a need to add one more somewhere else. I still think you need the 4-back insurance to start the year.
3. Wide Receivers (9): Josh Downs, Ashton Dulin, Anthony Gould*, AD Mitchell*, D.J. Montgomery, Alec Pierce, Michael Pittman Jr., Laquon Treadwell, Juwann Winfree
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Wide Receivers (9/6): Josh Downs, Ashton Dulin, Anthony Gould*, AD Mitchell*, D.J. Montgomery, Alec Pierce, Michael Pittman Jr., Laquon Treadwell, Juwann Winfree
Bowen’s Analysis: I don’t think Ashton Dulin is a slam dunk lock. Could D.J. Montgomery and/or Laquon Treadwell bump Dulin off the roster? Do the Colts feel the need for a 6th wideout? The assumption here is Josh Downs is healthy enough to carry onto the 53-man roster to start the season.
4. Tight Ends (7): Mo Alie-Cox, Kylen Granson, Will Mallory, Jordan Murray, Drew Ogletree, Eric Tomlinson, Jelani Woods
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Tight Ends (7/4): Mo Alie-Cox, Kylen Granson, Will Mallory, Jordan Murray, Drew Ogletree, Eric Tomlinson, Jelani Woods
Bowen’s Analysis: I would say the Jelani Woods toe injury has relieved some cut down stress off this position. I think 4 names makes plenty of sense, with the possibility of Woods being an injured reserve to return candidate later this season. On the healthy Woods front though, I still don’t think it’s time to bail on him, especially with Mo Alie-Cox and Kylen Granson in contract years. Yes, Woods didn’t have a great camp before the injury, but are you really saying goodbye to a 3rd round pick who has had some NFL moments after just 2 NFL seasons (1 he missed due to injury) and 3 training camps?
5. Offensive Line (13): Tanor Bortolini*, Blake Freeland, Will Fries, Matt Gonclaves*, Arlington Hambright, Ryan Kelly, Bernhard Raimann, Quenton Nelson, Mike Panasiuk, Danny Pinter, Braden Smith, Dalton Tucker*, Jake Witt
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Offensive Line (13/8): Tanor Bortolini*, Blake Freeland, Will Fries, Matt Gonclaves*, Arlington Hambright, Ryan Kelly, Bernhard Raimann, Quenton Nelson, Mike Panasiuk, Danny Pinter, Braden Smith, Dalton Tucker*, Jake Witt
Bowen’s Analysis: I know I’m a number short here, but I’ll let the Colts sift through that in the roster gymnastics this coming week. With Tanor Bortolini nursing a toe injury, the Colts have no healthy interior backups, unless you counts rookie Matt Goncalves offering some position flex there. So, injuries to Wesley French and Josh Sills has meant the Colts need to find new interior backups for 2024. I went back to Danny Pinter as my 9th offensive linemen, for some backup center insurance, with Bortolini dealing with his own toe injury right now. I do think Dalton Tucker is a potential undrafted free agent who could make the team, but no center flex is concerning. This could be a Pinter vs. Tucker debate for a spot, which I had to take away with the Colts keeping Sam Ehlinger on the 53-man roster. No matter what happens, the Colts are likely to be very young among the offensive line depth, and the reserves have been shaky in August.
6. Defensive Line (16): Adetomiwa Adebawore, Genard Avery, Levi Bell, Taven Bryan, DeForest Buckner, Raekwon Davis, Samson Ebukam, Eric Johnson II, Isaiah Land, Laiatu Latu*, Jonah Laulu*, Titus Leo, Tyquan Lewis, Dayo Odeyingbo, Kwity Paye, Derek Rivers, Grover Stewart
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Defensive Line (16/10): Adetomiwa Adebawore, Genard Avery, Levi Bell, Taven Bryan, DeForest Buckner, Raekwon Davis, Samson Ebukam, Eric Johnson II, Isaiah Land, Laiatu Latu*, Jonah Laulu*, Titus Leo, Tyquan Lewis, Dayo Odeyingbo, Kwity Paye, Grover Stewart
Bowen’s Analysis: The season-ending injury to Samson Ebukam opened the door for Isaiah Land to crack my 53-man roster. Some might question Taven Brayn on the team, but he’s routinely running as one of the first defensive tackle reserves. You know Chris Ballard loves his defensive linemen, so how about keeping 10 here.
7. Linebackers (9): Austin Ajiake, Liam Anderson, Jaylon Carlies*, Zaire Franklin, Cameron McGrone, Segun Olubi, E.J. Speed, Grant Stuard, Craig Young*
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Linebackers (9/5): Austin Ajiake, Liam Anderson, Jaylon Carlies*, Zaire Franklin, Cameron McGrone, Segun Olubi, E.J. Speed, Grant Stuard, Craig Young*
Bowen’s Analysis: With how the defensive game has evolved over the years, and the prevalence of more defensive backs on the field, I’m content with keeping a smaller amount at linebacker. So I’ve done that here with just 5 making the team. If I had to keep a 6th it would either be the Indy native in Cam McGrone or Liam Anderson.
8. Cornerbacks (9) Micah Abraham*, Darrel Baker Jr., JuJu Brents, Dallis Flowers, Jaylon Jones, Chris Lammons, Kenny Moore II, Jaylin Simpson*, Ameer Speed
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Cornerbacks (9/6) Micah Abraham*, Darrel Baker Jr., JuJu Brents, Dallis Flowers, Jaylon Jones, Chris Lammons, Kenny Moore II, Jaylin Simpson*, Ameer Speed
Bowen’s Analysis: As we move to defensive backs, we need to point out the changes to the kickoff rule in acknowledging a potential shift in how teams view the back end of the roster special teams guys. It seems like teams are a tad more willing to use bigger defenders on the new kickoff, versus opting for more speed guys. Still though, let’s keep both Day 3 cornerback draft picks and 6 corners to start the season. Abraham needs to provide slot insurance value. Having said all this, names like Lammons (him or Abraham for the backup slot cornerback?), Baker Jr. and Speed are still in the mix, in my opinion. Those guys are factoring in on special teams, so how the Colts weigh that vs. the Day 3 picks in Simpson and Abraham will be something to watch.
9. Safeties (6): Julian Blackmon, Nick Cross, Marcel Dabo, Trevor Denbow, Rodney Thomas II, Michael Tutsie
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Safeties (6/4): Julian Blackmon, Nick Cross, Marcel Dabo, Trevor Denbow, Rodney Thomas II, Michael Tutsie
Bowen’s Analysis: The first “big name” of roster cuts came on Sunday with the Colts releasing veteran safety Ronnie Harrison Jr. On paper, the move is a tad confusing, Harrison Jr. is a player who offers position flex at safety and linebacker, and was even taking some starting reps this camp. Now, part of this move could very well fall under the roster gymnastics of this time of year. Because Harrison Jr. is a veteran, he is not exposed to waivers, so he’s a free agent. The Colts could bring him back next week, which is similar to what they did with Isaiah McKenzie at cut downs last year. Trevor Denbow’s special teams prowess is something the Colts covet. If I set the over/under at 1.5 defensive back waiver claims for the Colts, where would you go? I would be totally fine with that number being 2 (while realizing it probably won’t be). Yes, the team still needs help at both safety and cornerback. Depth, among other things, remains a secondary question mark.
10. Specialists (3): K-Matt Gay, LS-Luke Rhodes, P-Rigoberto Sanchez
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Specialists (3/3): K-Matt Gay, LS-Luke Rhodes, P-Rigoberto Sanchez
Bowen’s Analysis: This was easy, but should the Colts add a kicker to their 16-person practice squad given Matt Gay’s recent struggles?
