The Indianapolis Colts released their unnoffical depth chart ahead of their season opener against the Miami Dolphins this Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Aside from the heavily anticipated quarterback decision that reared its head weeks ago, the starting depth chart largely resembled expectations from before training camp. That is, however, outside of two free agent acquisitions on the defensive side of the ball who are now slated to start Week 1.
Veteran defensive backs Charvarius Ward and Camryn Bynum (as well as QB Daniel Jones) headlined the Colts’ uncharacteristically rich offseason, with the depth pieces added after the fact falling to the wayside when it comes to presumed impact.
In specific, the two depth defenders turned starters in question signed with the Colts during the late-stage(s) of the offseason: linebacker Joe Bachie (post-draft) and cornerback Xavien Howard (end of training camp).
Bachie is the lone Bengal defender to follow defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo from Cincinnati to Indianapolis. After spending half of a decade as a career special teamer (238 defensive snaps 921 special teams in 5 seasons), Bachie is poised to lead the Colts’ defense alongside Pro Bowl and Team Captain LB Zaire Franklin as the unit’s lone starters amidst a nickel-heavy makeup.
Howard (32), on the other hand, is a former First-Team All-Pro with tread on his tires, but has shown enough in a short time to gain the staff’s trust to log starter snaps against the likes of WRs Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. “He came in [to camp] in great shape,” Colts DC Lou Anarumo said earlier today about Howard facing such a challenge in his first run back. “He, like a lot of great players, they’re very prideful men. You know, he doesn’t have to do this. I think he wants to go out there and prove to himself, or to whomever, that he can play football at a high level still.”
Howard’s totaled 29 interceptions and 95 passes defended through eight seasons in the NFL. Although he didn’t play last season, Howard’s natural knack for the ball and veteran savviness should prove as a safe bet to lean on at least early in this season.
“He came in [to camp] in great shape…Like a lot of great players, they’re very prideful men. You know, he doesn’t have to do this. I think he wants to go out there and prove to himself, or to whomever, that he can play football at a high level still.”
Injuries to Indy’s cornerback room has resulted in a quick pivot of a rehaul as three of its CBs heading into camp are no longer apart of the team’s 2025 plans. Training camp has done exactly what it’s intended to do, even if it seems like a player(s) was unjustly left behind. The wins, losses, and record-breaking field goals all count starting this week. It’ll either be the beginning of the end for the Chris Ballard era in Indy, but then again, (I suppose) therein lies a reality where this is the end of a very-long beginning for the same regime.
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