Breaking down how these three fringe players can still make the Indianapolis Colts 2024 53-man roster
Time is ticking away for players still fighting for roster spots around the NFL. All 32 teams must cut down from 90 to 53 players by 4 PM EST on August 27. Members of the Indianapolis Colts have one final chance to show the team what they are worth during their preseason finale against the Cincinnati […]
Time is ticking away for players still fighting for roster spots around the NFL.
All 32 teams must cut down from 90 to 53 players by 4 PM EST on August 27. Members of the Indianapolis Colts have one final chance to show the team what they are worth during their preseason finale against the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday, August 22.
A few players may feel like their backs are against the wall as they attempt to earn a roster spot. Below, I have provided three players who are being counted out but have a realistic path to making the team.
Laquon Treadwell
The Colts signed Laquon Treadwell right after training camp began. During the preseason, he has been one of the best performers on the entire roster. And while many, including myself, thought his chances of making this team were slim, he continues to climb up the ranks. If Treadwell can have another solid performance against the Bengals in Week 3 of the preseason, it could go a long way toward making the roster.
In my opinion, he has already shown that he is likely a top-six player on the Colts at the WR position. If he wants to lock up a roster spot, though, I think the area he needs to make an impact on is special teams. He's competing with one of the Colts' best special teamers, Ashton Dulin, but if Treadwell can show he can impact the game both on offense and special teams, he could force the Colts' hand.
Dalton Tucker
The biggest surprise of training camp so far has undoubtedly been undrafted rookie free agent Dalton Tucker. Tucker has turned strong training camp practices into solid reps in the preseason, and now he sits by alone as the backup RG on the Colts' most recent unofficial depth chart. It's now a numbers game for Tucker as the Colts decide how many offensive linemen they choose to keep on the roster. If they keep 10, I think he is completely safe; if they only keep nine, it may come down to Tucker and veteran Danny Pinter. So if Tucker can again out-perform Pinter in the final preseason game, I think Tucker will lock up his roster spot with the Colts.
Jonah Laulu
The Colts drafted Jonah Laulu with their final draft pick in the 2024 NFL Draft in the seventh round. They shared after the draft they liked the upside Laulu provides at the DT position, and I think he's flashed multiple times during training camp and the preseason. He's got a tough fight ahead to make the team's roster. Four spots are already locked up in DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart, Adetomiwa Adebawore, and Raekwon Davis. So Laulu is competing with veterans Taven Bryan and Eric Johnson II for potentially only one spot.
The best thing Laulu can do to make the roster is show that he is farther ahead as a run defender than many think. If he can attack the run with authority in this final preseason game, Laulu would have nice film for the Colts to watch in both the run and passing game. In that case, I think the team would roll with his upside over players like Bryan and Johnson II, who have struggled tremendously when they had to fill in for Stewart.
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