The Indianapolis Colts picked up their first win of the preseason Saturday night , winning 21 to 13 over the Arizona Cardinals.
The Colts and Cardinals gave most of their starters a rest day, allowing multiple roster fringe players to step up to the plate and make their case to make the team's upcoming 53-man roster.
Colts Preseason Week 2 Winners/Losers
Adetomiwa Adebawore: Winner
The best player to touch the field yesterday for either team was Colts' second-year DT Adetomiwa Adebawore. Adebawore was flat-out dominant during his pass rush reps out of the interior. Early in the game, it was evident that Adebawore was too good to be facing the Cardinals' backup offensive linemen. He's had a strong training camp and continues to stack solid performances. He won't be able to start this season, but he's making a strong case to be a player the team looks to come on the field anytime star DT DeForest Buckner has to leave the field for any reason. I could even see the team having Adebawore and Buckner on the field together for obvious pass-down situations.
Blake Freeland: Loser
It's been a rough training camp for Colts second-year offensive tackle Blake Freeland, and his struggles continued into Week 2 of the preseason. Freeland was believed to have a strong hold on the team's swing tackle job entering training camp. But the more reps we see from Freeland, the less likely it is that the Colts are going to have much faith in Freeland filling in for either starting tackle, especially in pass protection.
Nick Cross: Winner
Nick Cross has shown a lot of improvement this offseason, and everything the team has said and done leads us to believe he is in line to be a starting safety for the team in 2024. He was one of the only presumed starters for the Colts to suit up on Saturday, and I think it was a wise decision by the team. Cross had his second straight strong perofrmance of the preseaon and looked more confident than ever. The team played him mainly at SS, where Julian Blackmon started last season. However, the team's focus seems to be on getting their two best safeties on the field in 2024, no matter which of the two positions they have to play to do so.
Jelani Woods: Loser
The Colts gave Kylen Grason and Mo Alie-Cox rest days with the starters on Saturday. So Drew Ogletree, Will Mallory, and Jelani Woods were the tight ends everyone's eyes were on during this ongoing roster battle. Woods has struggled to stand out during training camp, and worry is building amongst many following the Colts about him potentially not making their 53-man roster. Saturday was an ample opportunity for Woods, but unfortunately, he suffered an injury that ended his day fairly quickly into the game. Hopefully, he can get healthy fast because he only has two more chances to impress this staff during the team's joint practice with the Cincinnati Bengals, followed by the teams going head-to-head in their preseason finale on Thursday.
Isaiah Land: Winner
Isaiah Land continues to impress me anytime he gets an opportunity. Last year, his potential as a pass rusher flashed, and during training camp and the preseason, he looks drastically improved as a player from last year. He has been a difference-maker as both a pass rusher and a run-stopper. And he continues to look like someone who could find himself being a rotational piece on this team's defensive line. I'd be pretty shocked if Land didn't make the team's roster at this point.
Matt Gay: Loser
You don't ever want to be asking yourself if you have a kicker problem this close to the regular season. But the Colts have to be concerned after seeing starter Matt Gay miss both of his field goal attempts this week after going 1/2 during their preseason opener. After the game, head coach Shane Steichen said all the right things, doubled down on their veteran kicker, and shared his support for him. But if he struggles again against the Bengals, the Colts have to recognize this as a legitimate issue.
Tanor Bortolini: Winner
The Colts gave their starting offensive line the day off Saturday, and the team gave 2024 fourth-round pick Tanor Bortolini the first crack as their second-team center. He had a strong showing in both pass and run protection. Bortolini has been competing with Danny Pinter to be the team's backup center behind veteran Ryan Kelly. And with Kelly entering the final year of his current contract, winning the backup center job could go a long way towards Bortolini competing to be the team's starting center in 2025. He had to leave the game with a toe injury, but neither the team nor Borotlini seemed concerned about it. We shall see how they operate this week, but I think Borotllini's solid day against the Cardinals might have won him the Colts' backup center job.
