The Indianapolis Colts have listed seven players as inactive ahead of Sunday’s Week 7 matchup with the Miami Dolphins.
On gamedays, teams are permitted to only have 48 players active. So, between the 53-man roster and the two practice squad elevations made on Saturday, the Colts had to list seven players as inactive.
Overall, there aren’t really any surprises:
OL Danny Pinter
WR Anthony Gould
DE Genard Avery
LB EJ Speed
RB Jonathan Taylor
CB Chris Lammons
QB Sam Ehlinger
As was reported earlier in the day by Ian Rapoport, wide receivers Josh Downs, Michael Pittman, and Alec Pierce, who were all listed as questionable on Friday, will plays.
Also of note, Dayo Odeyingbo will play after being listed as questionable. On a unit that that has struggled to generate pressure over the last two games, Odeyingbo leads the team in that category this season.
Both Taylor and Lammons were ruled out on Friday. Speed was initially questionable before being downgraded to doubtful on Saturday. Without Lammons and Speed, the Colts elevated CB Kelvin Joseph and LB Liam Anderson from the practice squad to bolster the depth at those positions. For more on that, click here.
Without Taylor, the Colts will again rely on Trey Sermon and Tyler Goodson–although this week, Goodson should see more opportunities than what he has. Getting the run game going against a Miami defense that has been stingy against the pass will be important, and having Anthony Richardson back under center should help with that.
Last week was the first week that Pinter was inactive. In part, I would guess that this is due to the growing confidence that the Colts have in rookies Tanor Bortolini and Dalton Tucker to handle the center and guard positions.
But what is hopefully also a part of that equation is the improved play of tackle Blake Freeland, who had been inactive during the Colts’ first five games.
Gould, meanwhile, has been inactive the last few games with the Colts opting to have tight end Will Mallory available. Given that the Colts don’t use many four receiver sets, Mallory can provide more flexibility in terms of how he’s used.
Ehlinger will be inactive with Richardson available and Joe Flacco as the backup. Lastly, when healthy at defensive end in recent weeks, it’s been Avery who has been the odd-man out at that position.