INDIANAPOLIS — Here are some areas of interest as the Indianapolis Colts close their preseason Saturday against the Bengals in Cincinnati’s Paycor Stadium:
Kickoff: 1 p.m.
Broadcast: CBS4.
History lesson
The Colts and Bengals are meeting for the 30th time in the preseason, and Cincy owns a 16-13 series edge. The Colts are working on a five-game winning streak. The closeness of the franchises – roughly a 100-mile stretch of I-74 – has been conducive to getting together for the final game of the preseason. Saturday is the 21st time they’ve met in the last game of their preseason.
Enjoy.
QB rotation
Shane Steichen will keep starter Daniel Jones and backup Anthony Richardson Sr. out of the game. His rationale for not playing Richardson, a 23-year-old with 15 career starts that everyone insists needs playing time?
“He’s one play away from going into an actual game and don’t want to take the risk there in that situation,’’ Steichen said. “We’ve got a lot of threes and fours playing in this game.’’
Rookie sixth-round pick Riley Leonard starts and will play the first half. The second half belongs to Jason Bean.
Roster cuts looming
All of us have been guilty of casually dismissing the final game of the preseason. It’s meaningless. Or inconsequential.
Not so. Rosters that are at 90 must be trimmed to 53 by 4 p.m. Tuesday.
If general manager Chris Ballard and Steichen had to get to 53 today, they probably would feel comfortable cutting to 49 or 50. There are always a few spots open to debate, and injuries complicate matters. Will running back Tyler Goodson (elbow) be ready for the Sept. 7 opener against Miami? How about linebacker Jaylon Carlies (ankle), safety Nick Cross (hip) or cornerback Jaylon Jones (hamstring)?
It’s possible the Colts carry two or three players on the 53 who aren’t expected to miss more than a game or two because of injury. That was the case last season with wideout Josh Downs. That takes up valuable roster spots. Ballard also has the option on Tuesday of placing two players on the injured reserve list with a designation to return, which means that player would have to miss at least the first four games.
A pair of rookies – third-round corner Justin Walley (ACL) and seventh-round safety Hunter Wohler (Lisfranc) – would have made the active roster, but both suffered season-ending injuries. Same with offensive tackle Blake Freeland (leg). Their misfortune opens the door for players who weren’t going to make it.
The day after Tuesday’s cut to 53, teams are allowed to put together a 16-player practice squad, or 17 if one player carries an international designation.
Not meaningless
We’ll have a strong indication of the majority of the Colts’ 53-player roster. Just check out the 30 or 40 players who won’t play. Steichen and his staff will rely heavily on players down the depth chart.
But the game isn’t meaningless.
Undrafted rookie Johnathan Edwards and Alex Johnson, in his second season, are looking to find a spot in the crowded cornerback mix. There might be room at safety for Daniel Scott, a 2023 fifth-round pick who’s missed his first two seasons with injuries, or undrafted rookie Trey Washington. Will the fourth tight end spot go to Will Mallory, a 2023 fifth-round pick who had a strong training camp, or Jelani Woods, a 2022 third-rounder who’s missed the last two seasons with injuries?
On the offensive line, rookie Jalen Travis might have the inside track as the backup swing tackle, but maybe Luke Tenuta can stick with a strong day against Cincy. There are similar questions on the defensive line and at linebacker.
Zaire remembers
Zaire Franklin’s position is secure, of course. He was second-team All-Pro and named to his first Pro Bowl last season after leading the NFL with 173 tackles, and his 518 tackles are the most in the league over the past three seasons.
But in 2018, he was a seventh-round pick – the Colts’ second seventh-round pick after Matthew Adams – hoping to do enough to survive the cut to 53. Indy kept Shaq Leonard and Anthony Walker out of the final game at Cincy and started Franklin and Adams. Franklin was on the field for 14 defensive snaps and five more on special teams.
Clearly, he did enough to survive the cut to 53. Over his first three seasons, Franklin appeared in all 48 games but started only four and logged 930 plays on special teams. After being on the field for 176 defensive snaps as a rookie, he saw zero in 2019 and 86 in ’20.
Over the past four seasons, Franklin has started 61 games and piled up 559 tackles, including a club-record 179 in 2023. The 235th overall pick earned a three-year, $12 million contract in March 2022 and a three-year, $31.26 million extension in March 2024.
Franklin’s advice to young teammates who’ll see extensive action in Cincy?
“Man, just have fun,’’ he said. “Obviously, don’t let the moment be too big. We put all the work and preparation in during the week. I know it’s tough for them, especially when they’re not getting a lot of reps in practice.
“I tell them, ‘Look, your time is coming, and when you get your opportunity, just don’t miss.’ Just play hard, make plays and we can figure everything else out at the end.’’
The Colts have had at least one undrafted rookie make the 53-man opening-day roster in 24 of the past 26 seasons. Their league-best active streak of 22 consecutive seasons ended in 2021.
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.