Rapid Reaction: Colts release first unofficial depth chart of preseason (2024)

The Indianapolis Colts released their first unofficial depth chart on Tuesday, and while there weren’t necessarily any shocking surprises, there were at least a few key takeaways:

Our first unofficial depth chart of the preseason:
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) August 6, 2024

Rapid Reaction: Colts release first unofficial depth chart of preseason (1)

Top Backup Interior O-Line Spots Still Up for Grabs

We know the combination of Quenton Nelson, Ryan Kelly, and Will Fries will be starting from left guard to center respectively, but it’s who the primary backups behind them will be at each spot. There’s a lot of ‘ORs,’ meaning the Colts haven’t made up their minds yet in an interior group that includes Danny Pinter, Tanor Bortolini, and Wesley French among others.

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Rookie Matt Goncalves is the Primary Backup RT

It was the expectation that the Colts rookie 3rd round pick would be the most likely candidate to be the team’s top swing-tackle this upcoming season. So far, Goncalves has only delivered, as he’s currently the primary backup right tackle listed on the depth chart.

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Mo Alie-Cox, Kylen Granson Listed as Starting Tight Ends

So far, the 7th-year veteran Mo Alie-Cox and 4th-year tight end Kylen Granson have held off their younger challengers at the position, Jelani Woods and Drew Ogletree, in what’s a deep tight end room—even if it lacks an elite alpha dog. Jelani Woods is the most talented tight end of the group, but he missed all of last season with hamstring injuries, so he’ll likely have some catching up to do to usurp the top of the pecking order.

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Starting WR2 Spot Contested Between AD Mitchell, Alec Pierce

Both returning starter Alec Pierce and rookie AD Mitchell have so far split first-team offense reps in training camp. As a third-year veteran, Pierce has been a little more consistent than Mitchell throughout to-date, but that’s a bit to be expected initially. Mitchell may offer more long-term upside, but he also has to earn it in what’s been a heated camp competition.

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Rookie Laiatu Latu Not Listed as a Starter at Defensive End

Honestly, in the wake of Samson Ebukam’s season-ending Achilles injury, I wouldn’t read into this one too much yet. Latu will get plenty of playing time, particularly on passing downs. 7th-year veteran Tyquan Lewis is listed as the starter because he’ll likely be the one handling the bulk of early/running downs as a bigger body—in more of a run stuffing role.

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Segun Olubi Listed as Starting ‘SAM’ Linebacker

There were reports that rookie 5th round pick Jaylon Carlies had been getting first-team defense run when the Colts went with three linebackers, next to entrenched starters Zaire Franklin and E.J. Speed. However, it’s Olubi who’s currently penciled in for such a situational role. Granted, it’s Week 1 of preseason, so that could certainly change and could potentially may be even used right now as a motivational carrot for the rookie Carlies, who’s flashed throughout training camp, to continue to earn the job.

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Nick Cross is Currently Colts Starting Free Safety

There’s no ‘OR’ here, as Nick Cross appears to be the leader in the clubhouse regarding a starting free safety competition that also includes Rodney Thomas Ii and Ronnie Harrison Jr. (*or maybe even fellow starter Julian Blackmon in a position switch). As a 2022 third round pick, the still 22-year-old Cross offers the most promise of the group, featuring elite speed and athleticism, but he hasn’t run away with the starting job next to Blackmon outright yet.

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JuJu Brents + Jaylon Jones: Starting Outside Corners

As long as both stayed healthy, the logical conclusion was that the young outside starting cornerback pair of JuJu Brents and Jaylon Jones to finish last season would also begin this preseason in the same roles. Having missed a lot of last year with a torn Achilles, the top challenger Dallis Flowers likely faced an uphill battle to unseat either this early in preseason. We’ll have to see if the Colts confidence in their young cornerback room ultimately pays off.

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Anthony Gould: Second-String Special Teams Returnman

By the end of preseason, I still expect rookie 5th round pick Anthony Gould to be the primary kick and punt returnman. Right now, such titles falls to both Dallis Flowers and Josh Downs respectively, but the Colts drafted Gould to be the guy there—and he’s already made some flashes throughout training camp. Not to mention, both Flowers and Downs could see key roles on both defense and offense, meaning that the Colts may not want to risk further injuries to either by deploying either as a return specialist. They’ll go for Gould!