Some higher-profile Colts news has overshadowed their roster construction, but the Jonathan Taylor drama factors into Indianapolis’ roster construction. Here is how the team moved down to 53:
Released:
- TE Pharaoh Brown
- S Ronnie Harrison
- T Dan Skipper
- WR Vyncint Smith
- WR Juwann Winfree
Waived:
- LB Liam Anderson
- S Henry Black
- S Marcel Dabo
- RB Jake Funk
- RB Jason Huntley
- DE Khalid Kareem
- WR D.J. Montgomery
- LB Donavan Mutin
- WR Amari Rodgers
- CB Darius Rush
- DT Caleb Sampson
- WR Mike Strachan
- CB Isaac Taylor-Stuart
- CB Kevin Toliver
Placed on IR:
- LB JoJo Domann
- DE Titus Leo
- C Danny Pinter (story)
- TE Ricky Seals-Jones
Placed on reserve/PUP:
- RB Jonathan Taylor (story)
Placed on reserve/suspended list:
While Funk could be a practice squad candidate, Indianapolis’ 53-man roster includes three running backs: Deon Jackson, Zack Moss and fifth-round rookie Evan Hull. Moss is rehabbing a broken arm and looms as a candidate for in-season IR. The Colts released late-summer pickup Kenyan Drake recently. The Taylor move sidelines the disgruntled All-Pro for the first four games.
Smith, Rodgers, Strachan and Winfree moving off the roster leaves only four receivers (Michael Pittman, Alec Pierce, Josh Downs and Isaiah McKenzie) on the active. It seems likely another will be added before Week 1. Even with Brown gone, Indy’s 53-man roster houses five tight ends. Jelani Woods, Mo Alie-Cox, Kylen Granson, fifth-round rookie Will Mallory and Drew Ogletree, a second-year sixth-rounder, comprise that group. This would seem to be a place the Colts would be willing to cut into, should they be awarded any players on waivers before Wednesday’s 11am CT deadline.
The Colts added Harrison this offseason, signing the former Browns safety after the Browns brought in 2022 Colts cog Rodney McLeod. It should be expected Harrison, who is going into his sixth season, lands somewhere soon. Teams can keep up to six vested veterans on their respective practice squads, leaving the door ajar for Harrison — who only signed with the Colts on Aug. 14 — to stay. The 26-year-old defender has 45 starts on his resume.