Indianapolis Colts Roster Decisions: Final 53

After weeks of deliberation and changing the Indianapolis Colts’ projected 53-player roster several times, here’s the final prediction.

INDIANAPOLIS — As the deadline approaches for the Indianapolis Colts to trim their regular-season roster to 53 players, here’s the projection.

In the past few weeks, the list has changed several times. In fact, one more switch was made on Thursday night, when defensive end Kemoko Turay was added because he must be on the 53-man roster before the team can place him on injured reserve with a designation to return.

That means the defensive line has nine players, but Turay has yet to practice as he recovers from surgery to repair a fractured right foot suffered in Week 5 last season. He’s not expected to be ready for a few weeks. The same for tight end Trey Burton, whose calf injury could keep him sidelined for two or three games.

When the Colts released fullback Roosevelt Nix, that freed up a spot which was used to keep rookie wide receiver Dezmon Patmon. Because the Colts were ravaged by injuries at wide receiver, it made sense to keep six.

That’s also why the offensive line has nine keepers. Offensive left tackle Anthony Castonzo rested during Thursday’s practice due to an oblique injury. It’s not believed to be serious, but it’s a reminder that depth can be key, even for an O-line that didn’t have a missed start in 2019.

Colts head coach Frank Reich (gray shirt) chats with players on Thursday :: Robert Scheer/USA TODAY Sports

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Should the Colts place Turay on injured reserve to give him more time to get healthy, the hunch is they will either add a cornerback or a tight end.

Keeping just five cornerbacks, with one of them rookie Isaiah Rodgers who is valued more as a kick returner than as an undersized cornerback, seems one player light. But Burton being sidelined means the Colts would have just two tight ends in this projection, Jack Doyle and Mo Alie-Cox. The Colts need three tight ends. Don’t be surprised if another is kept, possibly Xavier Grimble.

The deadline for cuts is 4 p.m., Saturday (EST), and general manager Chris Ballard could add players from the waiver wire, which means subtracting some that initially think they made the cut. The NFL is harsh on players in more ways than one during cutdown weekend.

If this projection is accurate in terms of no undrafted free agents making the final cut, that would snap the Colts’ 21-year streak of an undrafted player making the 53-man roster. It’s the NFL’s longest such UDFA streak.

Head coach Frank Reich conceded that this is the deepest roster he’s had since being hired in 2018. And it became even more difficult for undrafted free agents considering there weren’t any preseason games due to the Coronavirus pandemic and offseason training activities were handled remotely.

Perhaps the best chance for an undrafted free agent was kicker Rodrigo Blankenship, who received a $20,000 signing bonus to compete against incumbent Chase McLaughlin. The kicking competition was close, but the hunch is the Colts will go with McLaughlin, who kicked for three teams as an undrafted rookie last year, the final four games with Indianapolis.

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Colts 53-man Roster Projection

Quarterback (3) — Philip Rivers, Jacoby Brissett, Jacob Eason

Running back (4) — Marlon Mack, Jonathan Taylor, Nyheim Hines, Jordan Wilkins

Wide receiver (6) — T.Y. Hilton, Parris Campbell, Zach Pascal, Michael Pittman Jr., Marcus Johnson, Dezmon Patmon

Tight ends (3) — Jack Doyle, Trey Burton, Mo-Alie Cox

Offensive line (9) — Anthony Castonzo, Quenton Nelson, Ryan Kelly, Mark Glowinski, Braden Smith, Le’Raven Clark, Danny Pinter, Jake Eldrenkamp, Javon Patterson

Defensive line (9) — Justin Houston, DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart, Denico Autry, Ben Banogu, Al-Quadin Muhammad, Rob Windsor, Tyquan Lewis, Kemoko Turay

Linebacker (6) — Darius Leonard, Anthony Walker Jr., Bobby Okereke, Matthew Adams, EJ Speed, Zaire Franklin

Cornerback (5) — Rock Ya-Sin, Xavier Rhodes, Kenny Moore II, T.J. Carrie, Isaiah Rodgers

Safety (5) — Malik Hooker, Khari Willis, George Odum, Tavon Wilson, Julian Blackmon

Special teams (3) — Rigoberto Sanchez (punter), Luke Rhodes (long snapper), Chase McLaughlin (kicker)

(Phillip B. Wilson has covered the Indianapolis Colts for more than two decades and authored the 2013 book 100 Things Colts Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die. He’s on Twitter @pwilson24, on Facebook at @allcoltswithphilb and @100thingscoltsfans, and his email is phillipbwilson24@yahoo.com.)