NFL
By Bill Carroll
The Colts 2023 53-man roster is taking shape. Like a piece of marble being chiseled into a sculpture, the Colts 2023 53-man roster is being created by a combination of cutting an polishing. The cuts include a few notable names, like veteran running back, Kenyan Drake, who is entering his eighth season. In his career he has produced 3,866 yards rushing, 33 touchdowns and 1624 yards receiving on 216 catches, with 8 touchdowns via the pass. He has worn five uniforms, he may now begin his quest for a sixth.
Another prominent veteran who was shown the door was, Breshad Perriman, the 26th selection, made by Baltimore Ravens, in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Perriman is a physical marvel, but despite being the son of Brett Perriman, he has struggled with the finer points of playing receiver. Much was expected of the fifth and final wide receiver taken in 2015, but if it is to happen, it must happen elsewhere.
Colts 2023 Defense
The players who were cut or released were:
- CB Michael Tutsie
- CB Darius Rush
- CB Isaac Taylor-Stuart
- CB Kevin Toliver
- DE Khalid Kareem
- DE Al-Quadin Muhammad
- DT Caleb Sampson
- LB Donavan Mutin
- LB Liam Anderson
Darius Jaloyd Rush had been expected to be one of the six corners on the Colts 2023 53-man roster, he was the team’s 138th overall pick, in fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He was a classic rising prospect, who ran 4.36 at the combine and was generally physically impressive.
The expectation was that the 6’1 5/8” 198 Darius Rush would team with the Colt’s 6’2 ¾” 198 44th selection of the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Julius Brents. Tony Brown is a special teams asset on the The Colts 2023 53-man roster, Rush has intriguing potential as a cover corner, but is not polished, as he is a converted wide receiver. I wrote about the strong showing he had at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine.
A young corner who did make the Colts 2023 53-man roster, is rookie 7th-round pick Jaylon Jones, joining outstanding slot corner, Kenny Moore II, himself claimed off of waivers from the Patriots, Dallis Flowers, Darrell Baker Jr. and the aforementioned veteran Tony Brown. Jones clearly earned a spot on the roster and likely benefited when Rush had missed time with an injury. Rush is now a member of the Kansas City Chiefs. There he joins some similar young corners, 23-year-old Joshua Williams, who was a fourth-round draft pick (135th overall) and Jaylen Watson who was drafted by the Chiefs in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Colts 2023 Offense
The players who were cut or released were:
- C Dakoda Shepley
- OT Matthew Vanderslice
- OT Dan Skipper
- G Emil Ekiyor
- RB Kenyan Drake
- RB Zavier Scott
- RB Jake Funk
- RB Jason Huntley
- TE Nick Eubanks
- TE Michael Jacobson
- TE La’Michael Pettway
- TE Pharaoh Brown
- WR Tyler Adams
- WR Kody Case
- WR/KR Isaiah McKenzie
- WR D.J. Montgomery
- WR Breshad Perriman
- WR Michael Strachan
- WR Malik Turner
- WR Vyncint Smith
- WR Amari Rodgers
- WR James Washington
- WR Juwann Winfree
Colts 2023 Special Teams
The player who was cut or released:
- K Lucas Havrisik
Colts 2023 Signings
The Colts 2023 roster is bolstered by the addition of three new players: Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Ryan Hayes, Philadelphia Eagles guard Josh Sills and Dallas Cowboys linebacker Isaiah Land. I am particularly intrigued by Land and have written about him in the past. He was a record-setter at Florida A&M. He has
mature aspects of his game, especially with regard to the nuance and timing of his pass-rushing. The former Buck Buchanan Award winner played in all three Cowboys preseason games. He produced seven total tackles (three solo), a sack, a tackle for loss, and two quarterback hits.
The Colts 2023 Practice Squad:
CB Isaac Taylor-Stuart
CB Kevin Toliver II
DE Al-Quadin Muhammad
DT Caleb Sampson
LB Liam Anderson
LB Donavan Mutin
RB Jason Huntley
RB Jake Funk
S Henry Black
S Marcel Dabo
S Ronnie Harrison Jr.
WR Racey McMath [Reported but not updated on the team website]
T Dan Skipper
WR Mike Strachan
WR Amari Rodgers
WR Juwann Winfree
WR D.J. Montgomery
The Colts 2023 Elephant In The Room
Currently on the physically unable to perform list, [PUP list] is Jonathan Taylor. Reportedly there were two teams with “substantive interest” in Taylor, per CBS Sports HQ insider Josina Anderson, but no offer appeared to come close to the compensation that the 2023 Colts were seeking for the former NFL rushing leader. He has not practiced with the Colts this off-season. There has been contention over the amount and structure of his current and future contract compensation.
Colts general manager discussed Taylor and the team with reporters on Wednesday, admitting that the situation “sucks,” but also saying he thinks the relationship with Taylor is “repairable.” Taylor is ineligible for the first four games of the season on the PUP list and reportedly still has some pain in his surgically repaired ankle. It seems the Colts would like to retain rather than trade him, but Taylor wants out.
The Athletic’s Mike Jones wrote that Taylor and his representatives are desiring a contract that would pay him $14 to $15 million per year, but currently Taylor is on a four-year, $7,829,150 contract, according to Spotrac. Taylor’s total compensation is $5,117,482, $4,304,000 of which is salary with $813,482 in prorated signing bonus. Needless to say the two sides are far apart.
For the Colts 2023 season to be a success, they must resolve this impasse and develop a young quarterback. Each task would be a significant challenge, but they most do both and one will definitely impact the other.
