COLTS

Insider: Predicting the Colts' final 53-man roster

Stephen Holder
IndyStar
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Duron Carter (9) fields a kick return in the first half of their preseason game Saturday, August 22, 2015, evening at Lucas Oil Stadium.

It's the time of year that everyone in the NFL – players and coaches alike – dreads.

With only Thursday night's preseason games remaining, final roster cuts are quickly approaching.

By Saturday afternoon, every NFL team must reduce its roster from the current 75-man maximum to 53 players. Some cuts are more difficult than others. But when you're shattering dreams and crushing hopes, none can be classified as easy.

Here's our best effort to predict what the Colts' final roster will look like.

• Quarterbacks (2)

Keep: Andrew Luck, Matt Hasselbeck

Release: Bryan Bennett

The Colts have long been among the growing number of NFL teams to go with just two quarterbacks on their roster, and there's little expectation of that changing now. Bennett could be a practice squad candidate as a developmental player.

• Receivers (5)

Keep: Andre Johnson, T.Y. Hilton, Phillip Dorsett, Donte Moncrief, Duron Carter

Release: Griff Whalen, Vincent Brown, Quan Bray

The talent pool here is pretty deep, so an argument can be made for keeping six. But injuries elsewhere on the roster might prompt the Colts to keep heavier numbers at other positions. Carter's substantial upside gives him the nod over Whalen.

• Running backs (3)

Keep: Frank Gore, Boom Herron, Josh Robinson

Release: Vick Ballard, Zurlon Tipton, Tyler Varga

There's simply not enough of a body of work on Ballard to justify keeping him on the final roster, no matter how much the Colts and fans might be rooting for him after two consecutive season-ending injuries. A sad story.

• Tight ends (3)

Keep: Dwayne Allen, Coby Fleener, Jack Doyle

Release: Sean McGrath, Erik Swoope

The Colts have one of the NFL's best combos in Allen and Fleener, while Doyle offers the peace of mind that comes with having an all-purpose player who can fill multiple roles when called upon.

• Offensive line (10)

Keep: Anthony Castonzo, Lance Louis, Khaled Holmes, Todd Herremans, Jack Mewhort, Joe Reitz, Jon Harrison, Denzelle Good, Hugh Thornton, David Arkin

Release: Kitt O'Brien, Ulrick John

The injury to Hugh Thornton is a factor here, meaning the Colts will probably have to carry an extra body for depth on the interior of the line. This definitely helps a guy like Arkin.

• Defensive line (7)

Keep: Art Jones, Kendall Langford, Montori Hughes, Josh Chapman, Henry Anderson, David Parry, Zach Kerr

Release: Kelcy Quarles, Earl Okine

The big variable here is Jones' ankle injury, which could force the Colts to place him on short-term injured reserve (eight weeks). That will have a ripple effect on the rest of the unit.

• Outside linebackers (6)

Keep: Trent Cole, Robert Mathis, Erik Walden, Jonathan Newsome, Bjoern Werner, Cam Johnson

Release: Daniel Adongo

Without knowing when Mathis will return to action, we must assume the Colts will carry an extra guy at this position, at least until Mathis is full go. Adongo has shown great development, but he won't crack this talented lineup.

• Inside linebackers (4)

Keep: Jerrell Freeman, D'Qwell Jackson, Nate Irving, Amarlo Herrera

Release: Henoc Muamba, Carlos Fields, Junior Sylvestre

Herrera, a sixth-round pick, has emerged as a potential playmaker and deserves a long look here. Irving (knee) hasn't been cleared for game action yet, so that may impact decision-making at this position.

• Cornerbacks (6)

Keep: Vontae Davis, Greg Toler, Darius Butler, D'Joun Smith, Jalil Brown, Sheldon Price

Release: Chance Casey, Ramon Taylor, Eric Patterson

There's been good competition among the reserves at this position, with Brown and Price outperforming third-round pick Smith. But cornerback depth is essential, so maybe there's room for everyone.

• Safeties (4)

Keep: Mike Adams, Dwight Lowery, Clayton Geathers, Colt Anderson

Release: Dewey McDonald, Winston Guy

Two solid veterans, Adams and Lowery, will start, with backups Geathers and Anderson being among the most versatile players on the roster – especially on special teams.

• Specialists (3)

Keep: Adam Vinatieri (kicker), Pat McAfee (punter), Matt Overton (long snapper)

Release: None

No analysis required here. This is the unit of least concern for the Colts.