Colts Projected Roster: Getting to 53

The Indianapolis Colts' front office has been busy over the last week or so, culminating with a trade for cornerback Vontae Davis.

By Evan Hilbert

Aug 29, 2012 at 11:30 am ET • 3 min read

The Indianapolis Colts' front office has been busy over the last week or so, culminating with a trade for cornerback Vontae Davis. The defensive backfield is now somewhat more defined, with Davis joing felllow cornerback Jerraud Powers and safeties Tom Zbikowski and Antoine Bethea. Still, many believe the Colts aren't done, as they still have needs in the defensive backfield and on the offensive line.

The roster now sits at 75 players, and will be cut down to 53 Friday night. Indy's final preseason game will be Thursday night against the Bengals.

QB -- In (3): Andrew Luck, Drew Stanton, Chandler Harnish. Out: none. Analysis: It has been this way from the start and will not change. And there's no reason for it to, as Stanton and Harnish have both played well in the preseason.

RB -- In (4): Donald Brown, Mewelde Moore, Vick Ballard, Delone Carter. Out: Darren Evans, Deji Karim. Analysis: It would not be surprising to see Carter get cut in favor of Evans or Karim, though that still seems unlikely. I think Moore is safe based on his relationship with offensive coordinator Bruce Arians from their days in Pittsburgh, and Carter just seems like the likely pick between the bottom three.

WR -- In (5): Reggie Wayne, Austin Collie, LaVon Brazill, T.Y. Hilton, Donnie Avery. Out: Jeremy Ross, Kris Adams, Jabin Sambrano, Kashif Moore. Analysis: Don't be fooled by the addition of Moore earlier this week; he is likely just a warm body to throw into Thursday's preseason finale. If anything, Adams could sneak in as the sixth receiver in case Collie isn't able to go by the start of the season.

TE -- In (3): Coby Fleener, Dwayne Allen, Dominique Jones. Out: Kyle Miller, Andre Smith. Analysis: This group seems set. None of the top three have done anything to endanger themselves, and Miller and Smith haven't done anything to supplant them.

OL -- In (11): Anthony Castonzo, Jeffrey Linkenbach, Joe Reitz, Samson Satele, A.Q. Shipley, Mike McGlynn, Seth Olsen, Winston Justice, Mike Tepper, Justin Snow, Ty Nsekhe. Out: Zane Taylor, Hayworth Hicks, Steven Baker. Analysis: This group will likely change based on if the Colts are able to add any O-linemen prior to the season. They lack depth on the line, and they are certainly in the market for a few reliable horses up front.

DL -- In (6): Cory Redding, Antonio Johnson, Fili Moala, Ricardo Mathews, Drake Nevis, Chigbo Anunoby. Out: James Aiono, Jason Shirley. Analysis: This is another position the Colts will be looking to add depth. Injuries have depleted the nose tackle position, with Brandon McKinney placed on injured reserve and rookie Josh Chapman on reserve/non-injury, so he'll miss the first six games. They will again look to waivers.

LB -- In (11): Robert Mathis, Kavell Conner, Dwight Freeney, Pat Angerer, Jerry Hughes, Mario Harvey, Jerrell Freeman, Mario Addison, Greg Lloyd, Tim Fugger, Moise Fokou. Out: Justin Hickman, Jerry Brown. Analysis: This is an interesting group, inasmuch as it is rife with injury, incosistency, and inexperience, which makes it difficult to predict. However, I feel if the Colts are going to go heavy at any position, it's going to be linebacker.

DB -- In (8): Jerraud Powers, Vontae Davis, Justin King, Tom Zbikowski, Antoine Bethea, Joe Lefeged, Jermale Hines, Josh Gordy. Out: Latarrius Thomas, Mike Newton , Brandon King, Korey Lindsey, Cassius Vaughn, D.J. Johnson. Analysis: Another position that could still see movement is safety. Though there have been major changes to the defensive backfield already, there could still be more.