Colts pre-training camp starting lineup predictions for Week 1: Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones, new look defense, and more
This year's training camp for the Indianapolis Colts will have multiple starting spots up for grabs.The team is now on summer vacation as players have multiple weeks off until they will report for training Camp on July 22nd. Before they do, though, it feels like a good time to release my early prediction on who […]
This year's training camp for the Indianapolis Colts will have multiple starting spots up for grabs.
The team is now on summer vacation as players have multiple weeks off until they will report for training Camp on July 22nd. Before they do, though, it feels like a good time to release my early prediction on who the team's Week one starters will end up being. Which, of course, includes the highly anticipated battle to be the team's starting QB between Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones.
Colts starting offense prediction
QB: Anthony Richardson
RB: Jonathan Taylor
WR: Michael Pittman Jr.
WR: Alec Pierce
Slot WR: Josh Downs
TE: Tyler Warren
LT: Bernhard Raimann
LG: Quenton Nelson
C: Tanor Bortolini
RG: Matt Goncalves
RT: Braden Smith
The offensive side of the ball is a lot more cut and dry as long as the team's projected starters remain healthy. The team will hold camp competitions for their starting center and right guard positions, but whether they want to admit it or not, Bortolini and Goncalves have a significant lead for those jobs. This leaves the biggest battle on the Colts' entire roster, which is at QB.
Richardson and Jones both have a solid shot to leave training camp with the job. The biggest hurdle for Richardson will be whether or not this shoulder injury will keep him out of the start of training camp. I believe he will be out there day one, despite the roller coaster of reporting surrounding his shoulder injury. If he stays healthy, I think he is the team's best bet at QB currently on the roster, which is why he is my projected starting QB come Week 1 of the 2025 regular season. If he does have to miss any significant amount of time in training camp, though, I think the odds swing heavily into Jones' favor.
Colts starting defense prediction
Edge: Laiatu Latu
Edge: Kwity Paye
DT: DeForest Buckner
NT: Grover Stewart
LB: Zaire Franklin
LB: Jaylon Carlies
CB: Charvarius Ward
CB: Justin Walley
Nickle CB: Kenny Moore II
FS: Camryn Bynum
SS: Nick Cross
The defensive side of the ball is much less set in stone, in terms of starting jobs. The only players I think have their spots locked in are DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart, Zaire Franklin, Charvarius Ward, Camryn Bynum, and Nick Cross. This leaves both edge positions, a LB job, and a CB job up for grabs. At, edge I wouldn't be shocked to see any two of Latu, Paye, Samson Ebukam be the day one starting duo. With Ebukam coming off a torn Achilles, I lean towards Latu and Paye being given the keys, though the team will almost certainly have a healthy rotation at the position either way.
At LB, the Colts are hoping to see Jaylon Carlies take a step forward as a player heading into his second season. However, their decisions in the offseason essentially backed themselves into a corner with no plausible alternative option currently available. At CB, though, they have multiple solid young options for that second starting outside spot. Rookie Justin Walley, second-year CBs Jaylon Jones, Juju Brents, and Samuel Womack, who is entering his fourth season. Jones should be viewed as the favorite for the job at this time, but I have a lot of belief in Walley, and I think when it's all said and done, he will be a day one starter as a rookie.
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