The NFL is a league of superstars and each team has a handful of players all but locked into their regular-season roles on the squad. For those that aren’t so lucky, however, training camp can be a bloodbath, with 90 players vying for just 53 roster spots.
For the 2023 Colts, virtually no one is safe. With a new coaching staff and changing philosophy, the roster “bubble” is bigger than ever, with dozens of players going through drills every day with their jobs on the line.
A few names on the bubble have capitalized on the pressure of training camp, and may be playing their way onto the roster in Indianapolis.
Mike Strachan
Strachan looked to be headed toward the end of his stint with the Colts prior to training camp. Having been on the fringe of the roster for his entire career and amassing only five catches over his previous two years, Strachan was expected to fall victim to an influx of new receivers headlined by rookie Josh Downs and former Bills wideout Isaiah McKenzie.
Instead, Strachan has been one of the bright spots at Colts camp, making big plays with both quarterbacks Anthony Richardson and Gardner Minshew.
Last week, he made the most out of a matchup with rookie CB Jaylon Jones, going over his head for “the catch of the day.”
Strachan has been a training camp monster for each of his three seasons in the league, but perhaps he can finally earn some playing time under a new regime.
Jaylon Jones
Jones was a tremendous value as a seventh-round pick in this year’s draft, as many experts projected that he would land somewhere in the fourth or fifth round.
He’s made good on his “steal” label so far in camp, and could be a primary depth cornerback for a unit that’s set to throw its rookies into the fire right away. He’s won plenty of reps so far, including this diving block:
Jones’ coverage ability and athleticism have been another bright spot for a team in desperate need of help in the defensive secondary and he’s surely played his way onto the roster.
Drew Ogletree
A sixth-round pick last year, Ogletree was a star in last year’s training camp before tearing his ACL during joint practices. The 6-foot-5 tight end has been impressive once again this summer.
However, the Colts have prioritized the tight end position through free agency, making for a crowded room of nine players that will be cut down to roughly four.
With Jelani Woods and Kylen Granson near-locks to make the team, the Colts can hardly afford to keep Ogletree off the roster with how he’s performed so far this season.
Originally posted on yardbarker.com