Here's who made our Indianapolis Colts 53-man roster projections

Zak Keefer | IndyStar

Show Caption Hide Caption IndyStar's Zak Keefer projects Colts cuts Colts Insider Zak Keefer takes a crack at predicting who the Indianapolis Colts will keep and cut to get to 53 players.

INDIANAPOLIS — Chris Ballard likes to say that you can measure the depth of your roster in the players you cut. If a handful of them are immediately scooped up by other teams, you have it. If not, you don’t.

Last year, following final cuts, a below-average Indianapolis Colts’ roster saw just two of its former players picked up on the waiver wire – defensive tackle David Parry and offensive tackle Zach Banner. Parry had started 32 straight games here; he played all of one game for the Saints in 2017. Banner was a fourth-round pick the spring prior. Now he’s on his fourth team in two years.

In other words: No one was jumping at what the Colts were willing to part with. Ballard, now a second-year general manager, made it his missive to change this.

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He’s made progress. The roster is deeper, the competition thicker, presenting Ballard and his staff some tough decisions come this weekend. Like every NFL team, the Colts have to say goodbye to 37 players by Saturday at 4 p.m.

As the preseason winds down, a prediction at the Colts’ 53-man roster heading into Week 1 of the 2018 season. (Note: The roster will remain fluid even after final cuts, as the Colts scan the waiver wire for any players they want to add before next week.)

Colts quarterback

Quarterback (2): Andrew Luck, Jacoby Brissett

Notable cuts: Phillip Walker.

The Colts feel better about the most important position on the field than they have since 2014. Luck’s throwing shoulder is finally fixed, free of pain, and getting stronger by the day. (His minor foot injury shouldn't be an issue.) And in Brissett, the Colts have a capable backup on a meager rookie deal. Walker likely spends another season on the practice squad.

Colts running back

Running back (4): Marlon Mack, Jordan Wilkins, Nyheim Hines, Christine Michael

Notable cuts: None.

Problem is, this group presents a problem right away. Robert Turbin, suspended for the first four games of the regular season, will revert to the suspension list on Saturday. That’ll allow the Colts to keep Michael for insurance purposes. Turbin will count as a roster spot upon his return in Week 5.

It’s looking more and more like Mack’s hamstring could keep him out of the opener. The burden, then, will fall on Michael and the rookie rushers, led by Wilkins, who’s proven more steady over the preseason than the fumble-prone Hines. But Hines earns his spot based on the coach’s faith in his flexibility.

Colts wide receiver

Wide receiver (5): T.Y. Hilton, Ryan Grant, Chester Rogers, Kasen Williams, Reece Fountain.

Notable cuts: Zach Pascal, K.J. Brent, Seantavius Jones, Krishawn Hogan, Steve Ishmael.

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As thin a unit as there is on this roster. Beyond Hilton, Grant is a possession receiver. Rogers flashes big-play ability but hasn’t done it consistently on Sundays. Williams was the best of the rest during camp – at least the best of the rest who didn’t get hurt. The biggest decision boils down to Fountain, the fifth-round pick out of Northern Iowa who battled injuries early in camp and found himself buried near the bottom of the depth chart. Over the last few weeks, he didn’t do much to change that. He had just one catch in the preseason for 14 yards.

But it’s unlikely the Colts are willing to part ways with the rookie so soon, especially considering most of his camp was spent on the sideline. Brent’s injury, a knee suffered against the Ravens late in camp, couldn’t have come at a worse time. Otherwise he’s on this roster.

Colts tight end

Tight end (4): Jack Doyle, Eric Ebron, Ross Travis, Darrell Daniels.

Notable cuts: Erik Swoope, Mo Alie-Cox.

The deepest position group on the roster. In Doyle and Ebron, the Colts believe they have a dynamic one-two punch. Travis' athleticism fits this scheme perfectly, and Daniels keeps a job based on his ability in pass-protection and flexibility at fullback. Tough call over Erik Swoope, who stayed healthy and had a great camp.

Offensive line (9): Anthony Castonzo, Quenton Nelson, Ryan Kelly, Matt Slauson, Joe Haeg, J’Marcus Webb, Braden Smith, Deyshawn Bond, Denzelle Good.

Notable cuts: Austin Howard, Le’Raven Clark, Jeremy Vujnovich.

Though far from a finished product, this line is in a far better place than it was a year ago. In Castonzo, Nelson, Kelly and Slauson the Colts have four dependable starters – and five if Braden Smith take’s Slauson’s job at right guard, which he could very well do at some point this season. The right tackle spot remains the riddle this team can’t solve. What we know: Howard isn’t the answer. The Colts will likely turn to Smith, Haeg or Webb – or possibly Good, when he returns from a knee injury – to fill the void.

Colts defensive line

Defensive line (10): Jabaal Sheard, John Simon, Denico Autry, Al Woods, Tarell Basham, Hassan Ridgeway, Margus Hunt, Ryan Delaire, Kemoko Turay, Tyquan Lewis.

Notable cuts: Grover Stewart, Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Chris McCain, Anthony Johnson.

When it comes to Ryan Delaire, no one made a stronger push across the last half of the preseason for a job than the mid-camp addition. If the Colts practice what they preach – the best players, regardless of where they came from and when they arrive, earn the spots – then Delaire stays. Period.

On the flip side, the Colts drafted the likes of Turay and Lewis very high – both were second-round picks in last spring’s draft. Uneven training camps dogged by injuries isn’t enough for the team to cut them loose.

"At some level, it would be unrealistic to say that draft choices don’t get some consideration," coach Frank Reich said of the looming decisions. "That’s just the way it is in this league.

"I will say this, talking with Chris, we weight production on the field a little more with rookies, and draft status isn’t an automatic shoo-in in this organization. Chris has made that clear to me from Day 1, and I appreciate that. That is our mentality. You gotta earn it."

Basham keeps a spot, if not for production at the defensive end spot then his big-play ability on special teams, and Ridgeway earned a role as a rotation player with a strong preseason.

Colts linebackers

Linebackers (6): Najee Goode, Darius Leonard, Skai Moore, Anthony Walker, Zaire Franklin, Matthew Adams.

Notable cuts: Tyrell Adams, Jeremiah George.

A worrisome unit, with two rookies slated to start Week 1.Walker’s (eventual) return should help, but he still could be too slow to flourish in this speed-heavy scheme. Leonard is the hope, a potential future star whose speed and knack for the ball was evident every day during training camp. Don’t rule out the Colts adding a player to this group through the waiver wire after final cuts are complete.

Colts cornerbacks

Cornerbacks (6): Kenny Moore, Pierre Desir, Quincy Wilson, Nate Hairston, Lenzy Pipkins, Chris Milton.

Notable cuts: D.J. White, Henre' Tolliver.

Moore was the best corner, day in and day out, during training camp, and earned his starting job. Desir came on strong late, starring in the third preseason game against San Francisco.

The curveball this unit is dealing with at the moment is injuries: Quincy Wilson is battling a hand and Nate Hairston a hamstring. Both are day-to-day. The Colts will need all four to grow up fast in this new scheme, because opposing quarterbacks will come at them this season. In Pipkins and Milton, at least there is depth if Wilson or Hairston isn’t ready for Cincinnati.

Colts safeties

Safeties (4): Clayton Geathers, Malik Hooker, Matthias Farley, T.J. Green.

Notable cuts: Ronald Martin, George Odum.

Geathers is starting to look like he did pre-neck surgery, thumping ball-carriers from the strong safety position. With no snags, he very well could be in for a big year. Hooker’s tremendous progress – he played in the third preseason game just 10 months after surgery to repair a torn ACL – gives the Colts one of the most promising young safety tandems in football. And in Farley, the Colts have a viable starter ready able to step on the field in a pinch. Green’s status is less certain after he suffered a hamstring injury in the third preseason game.

Specialists (3): Adam Vinatieri, Rigoberto Sanchez, Luke Rhodes.

Vinatieri drilled a 57-yard field goal during the preseason. At age 45. Any questions?

Call Star reporter Zak Keefer at (317) 444-6134 and follow him on Twitter: @zkeefer.