Hey there Colts’ fans! Here is an update from the relatively quiet Colts’ Corral for this month.

ROSTER: The only change of any consequence this month is that the team waived reserve DE Rashod Berry and starting CB Isaiah Rodgers. It was reported right around the time I wrote this report last month that they along with another NFL player had received indefinite suspensions for gambling, and it came out shortly thereafter that they had bet on their own team’s games. While both can apply for reinstatement after the 2023 season, the Colts swiftly waived both of them, citing integrity for the league’s anti-gambling policy. Losing Rodgers is a huge deal as he was projected as a starting corner (he started 9 games in 2022) in a secondary devoid of any experience. In addition, Rodgers had shown himself to be a playmaker in the secondary and among the NFL’s best kickoff returners over the last few seasons.

INJURIES: While all other injured and recovering players look to be on track for full recovery and participation at training camp, there is still some ambiguity about star LB Shaq Leonard. This is obviously a real issue as the team defense was solid (although unspectacular) last year without him… but extremely different, in that they went from being a turnover machine to one of the league’s worst in that department. Leonard is the only guy in the NFL to post double digits totals for both interceptions and fumble recoveries over the years that he has been in the NFL, and they missed his impact plays dearly last season; The Colts were 3^rd in turnovers in 2020 and 2^nd in 2021, but plummeted to 25^th without him last season. The real disturbing part is that the eternally (and often unrealistically) optimistic Jim Irsay this week gave his usual glowing reports on guys like RB Jonathan Taylor, but when asked about Leonard he said "We’ll see." Makes me a bit nervous…

QUARTERBACK: The predictions for whether or not QB Anthony Richardson starts in week one have been all over the board throughout the media, both locally and nationally. My take is that this freakish athlete will be the best bet under center even if he struggles with the mental part of the game and the speed of the defenses, because his raw physical attributes are just too immense to overlook. His speed and size, and perfect fit for the vertical Shane Steichen offense make him too much of a matchup nightmare to keep on the bench rather than letting him learn. His intellectual strength and maturity is not getting enough mention, so I really don’t even think that those sorts of adjustments will be as difficult for him as many think. Here’s the thing….even if he makes poor choices or panics, he can throw the ball so hard or run so well that bad choices can still become big plays. Look at Cam Newton’s rookie season, playing with a far lesser surrounding cast: Richardson could easily match his 21 passing scores and 700 rushing yards, although his 4000 passing yards and 14 rushing TDs are likely off the charts. And those numbers, even with only 3000 passing yards and 6 rushing scores with 15 picks, would have made him a low end #1 fantasy guy in 2022. Don’t overlook adding this guy as your #2 in every draft this summer, as you won’t be disappointed.

TRAINING CAMP: Training camp begins soon on July 26^th, so there will be far more action and news after the real practices begin (hopefully not due to season-altering injuries). The biggest story to watch aside from the quarterback situation is the progress along the offensive line. With three of the top five highest paid Colts along the O-line, we really need that unit to play up to their prior Pro Bowl levels. Although, to be fair, the biggest reason they might or might not do that may not be due to the three highly paid veteran studs…..but may fall on the shoulders of the second year OT Bernard Raimann and how well he does holding down the left tackle spot.

That is all for this month from the Crossroads of America. I’ll back in August to take a look at the news from camp, and any developments on the fantasy value of players from this squad.

End.