INDIANAPOLIS – More so than ever, the names on this list really matter.
That’s life in 2020 for the NFL as the practice squads have increased to 16 names, with 2 of these guys getting promoted to the active roster each week.
In a normal year, the Colts have been a frequent user of their practice squad. That should only increase in 2020.
After roster cuts coming on Saturday, we saw teams put together practice squads on Sunday. For now, the Colts have used up 14 of their 16 practice squad spots.
Here is the (first) Colts practice squad to start the 2020 season:
QB-Chad Kelly: Keeping a 4th quarterback makes sense for a lot of reasons in 2020. Kelly, 26, had some nice moments again this camp.
WR-Reece Fountain: The Colts are still trying to tap into Fountain’s potential. The 2018 fifth-round pick had some flashes in camp, but he still hasn’t been able to prove himself enough to earn a 53-man roster spot.
WR-DeMichael Harris*: All throughout camp, the speedy Harris was sneaking his way into some starting reps. Clearly, he is somebody the Colts want to keep. Harris was an undrafted free agent out of Southern Miss this past spring.
TE-Farrod Green*: Green received tons and tons of reps this camp with all the other injuries at the tight end position. There had to be some conversation about placing him on the 53-man roster.
TE-Xavier Grimble: With the injury situation to Trey Burton, Grimble stays around Indy. Grimble has played in 47 career games since entering the league in 2014.
G-Jake Eldrenkamp: We saw Eldrenkamp spend the vast majority of last season on the Colts practice squad. He will start the 2020 season there again, as another backup interior option.
C/G-Joey Hunt: The Colts signed Hunt just a few weeks ago, but he quickly inserted himself as a possible reserve center option. Hunt started 8 games for the Seahawks last season.
OT-Carter O’Donnell*: An undrafted free agent from Canada, the 21-year-old O’Donnell was always thought to be an option for the practice squad, with the Colts hoping to groom him.
DT-Kameron Cline*: Another undrafted free agent, Cline played collegiately at South Dakota before joining the Colts in late April.
DT-Rob Windsor*: The Colts should feel fortunate to get Windsor through waivers. Windsor, a 6th round pick back in April, had some really nice moments during training camp.
DT-Chris Williams*: The Colts have three defensive tackles on their practice squad—a position group that Chris Ballard was not pleased with last season. Williams was a 2020 undrafted free agent
DE-Gerri Green: A forgotten man from the 2019 draft class, Green is on the practice squad for a second straight season.
CB-Andre Chachere: There were some ups and downs from Chachere during camp. He’s bounced around practice squads in Detroit, Carolina and Arizona.
CB-Tremon Smith: The Colts signed the veteran Smith (22 career games played) in August. He has returned 46 kicks in his career.
*Rookie
