The Indianapolis Colts have had quite the summer. There was no bigger news for the team than when it was revealed that starting cornerback Isaiah Rodgers violated the NFL gambling policy and would therefore miss the 2023 season.

Indianapolis has since released Rodgers, closing the chapter on that situation. But all that means is that other players on the roster will be thrust into even bigger roles with the preseason just around the corner.

Therefore, the Colts have no time to waste. Training camp is creeping up, and that is when the team must prepare rookie cornerbacks Julius Brents and Darius Rush for big-time, even potentially starting, roles.

Indianapolis selected Brents with its second pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, signaling just how high they were on the Kansas State product. Rush fell all the way to the fifth round, but he was viewed as a significant steal for the Colts.

James Boyd of The Athletic believes that there is a pathway to both rookies earning starting roles sooner rather than later. That's even with both being sidelined with different injuries during OTAs.

"Brents and Rush will have opportunities to become Day 1 starters, but since they were sidelined during veteran minicamp, they’ll be playing catch up when training camp begins," Boyd wrote in his roster projection. "Flowers and Baker started in their absence, while Jones, a seventh-round pick, made a few eye-popping plays on the ball."

Fortunately, the Colts do have Kenny Moore in the secondary, along with safeties Julian Blackmon and Nick Cross. With that said, it is crucial that Brents and Rush are up to speed to contribute majorly right out of the gate.

Colts rookie class highlights three winners from minicamp

The Indianapolis Colts’ 2023 NFL Draft class has been put on full display this offseason, including during minicamp.

Featured image via IndyStar-USA TODAY Sports