Hey there Colts’ fans! Here is an update from the Colts’ Corral for this month.

ROSTER: Throughout the month, the team had the usual NFL spate of signings for undrafted free agents and journeymen, and subsequent releases of guys that primarily would have been no more than camp fodder at best. However, the team did have a few signings of likely impact to the final roster. The biggest of these was veteran WR Breshad Perriman, a former first rounder who has kicked around the league a lot, but has flashed in multiple locations as a deep threat and even had a few really solid games (for short stretches) when asked to step into a lead role due to multiple injuries ahead of him. While he has never shown consistency, the reality is that he is a big play waiting to happen and an asset that the Colts’ receiver room really lacked the last few years. I suspect that his blazing speed makes him a needed addition to a deep (although lacking a scary alpha dog) receiving corps. This addition likely also pushes athletic freak WR Michael Strachan off the roster or to the practice squad if unclaimed elsewhere. A second former Buccaneer was also added in DE Genard Avery, a solid if unspectacular rotational player on the defensive line. He is a rare defensive lineman that also has shown prowess on special teams coverage units, so this could help him adhere to the back end of the roster at a position that the Colts prefer to carry an extra body or two.

INJURIES: Perhaps the biggest injury news is the lack of injury report on recovering P Rigoberto Sanchez. After showing himself to be one the best kickoff men and directional punters in the league, he suffered one of the most devastating injuries that a punter can have, a ruptured Achilles tendon, in the preseason last year. He is punting footballs without pain or issues at this point, although he has not been cleared to return to full workouts or kicking drills. Getting him back would solidify a special teams unit that was one of the league’s best even without him last year. Star RB Jonathan Taylor (ankle surgery) is also coming off an injury-plagued 2022 – rally suffering his first injury at any level of play. He was present throughout, but sat out the entire optional minicamp workouts, and he says that he will be ready to go at full speed for training camp next month. LB Shaq Leonard (back surgery) likewise is returning from an injury shortened season, but his timetable looks far murkier now and both he and the team are being very tight-lipped and conservative with his return. I would not be surprised if he even is limited or held out once the team resumes mandatory and formal activities as a full team, just to be cautious with his recovery. There were a bunch of minor injuries which kept a lot of players out of OTA workouts as precautions, but most of them do not look to be serious or long term issues.

QUARTERBACK: Surely no one expects QB Gardner Minshew to be "the guy" for most of the season, but he has looked sharp in OTAs, not insignificantly due to his familiarity with Shane Steichen’s scheme. He has been a consummate pro and mentor to young QB Anthony Richardson and to the receiving crew and other young players. For sure, Minshew likely enters training camp as the starter, but everyone knows that this team is gonna do all they can to get Richardson under center as soon as he is ready for play. He has looked every bit of the potential high-ceiling stud thus far and has shown maturity on and off the field that bodes well for his leadership of this franchise. I really like what I have seen so far as a leader and as a downfield thrower, and will likely draft Richardson wherever possible as my fantasy backup because of his high-end fantasy potential – for his ground contributions alone, even if he is without a ton of throwing success.

DEPTH CHARTS: It remains to be seen how the depth chart will fully shake out at the other fantasy relevant positions, but a few things are known. It is highly likely that the two starting wideouts will be lead dog WR Michael Pittman and second year man WR Alec Pierce, while the slot could be held down by veteran signee WR Isaiah McKenzie or rookie WR Josh Downs. Based on the reports out of OTAs and the glowing reports of rapport with QB Anthony Richardson, I would expect it to be Downs (and he makes a great late-round "dart throw" in early drafts, in all scoring systems). With WR Ashton Dulin’s lead role on special teams, I think the Colts keep him and Perriman as backups with defined unique roles and push all other receivers off the roster. The clearer picture is that RB Zack Moss is definitely set to be the primary backup and handcuff to Taylor; he absolutely dominated reps with the first team with Taylor sidelined. The tight end room is very crowded, so as a result there will be several players with NFL experience likely jettisoned even if the team keeps four tight ends (which is also likely). I don’t think any of them are likely to be huge fantasy options as they will split a small pie into smaller shares most likely, but TE Jelani Woods probably has the biggest potential to be a sleeper value pick as the guy with the greatest chance to find a way to the lion’s share of quality fantasy touches.

OTHER: Unfortunately, there is also some negative news from off the field as return specialist and projected starting CB Isaiah Rodgers was the "unnamed player" at the center of the gambling probe. Reports have surfaced implying that not only had Rodgers violated league rules by gambling, but also he may have been betting on the Colts games in which he was playing. After letting go two of their top three corners from last season from an already thin unit, this could put the Colts in the market for some veteran free agent help or in the trade market. In any case, this further seriously weakens one of the team’s weakest units. The depth chart was further weakened as the two drafted rookie corners each sat out with injuries, one minor and one lingering from college. The Colts did add some speed and return experience in this year’s draft, but losing Rodgers (and Nyheim Hines last year in a trade midseason) surely is a big blow to the special teamsexplosiveness. This may lead McKenzie to contribute more as a return man tan as a receiver early in the season especially.

That is all for this month from the Crossroads of America. Back atcha all next month as training camps are creeping closer – as are our fantasy drafts! Until then….have a great summer and a safe and festive Independence Day holiday!

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