When the initial 53-man roster was constructed by the Indianapolis Colts, there was a bit of a surprise in that the team wound up keeping seven linebackers on the roster.
Typically the Colts keep six linebackers on the active roster given the position’s role on special teams, but no one predicted them to keep seven. While roster moves are still in play before Week 1, general manager Chris Ballard expects the entire linebacker room will have a role at some point during the season.
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“We feel good about some guys we have, not only on the active but also on the practice squad. Then you weigh in a little bit of who you think – if they hit the street, are they going to get claimed? That weighs into it also,” Ballard told the media Sunday. “All these guys, everybody in that linebacker room – we’ll see what the active looks like each and every week, but at some point they’re all going to have a role defensively.”
The Colts have one of the best linebacker rooms in the NFL. Darius Leonard is coming off of a Pro Bowl season in which he should have been in consideration for an All-Pro nod. Anthony Walker Jr. has been one of the most productive linebackers since taking a starting role in 2018. Bobby Okereke is an emerging talent at linebacker who has the potential to be a star.
The Colts also have solid depth with E.J. Speed, Zaire Franklin, Matthew Adams and Jordan Glasgow, all of which contribute on special teams in a big way.
Keeping seven linebackers on the active roster might not be the easiest every week. The Colts are already keeping three quarterbacks in fear of losing fourth-round pick Jacob Eason to waivers while the cornerback room is also only carrying five spots and is one of the thinnest positions on the roster.
The Colts certainly have talent in the linebacker room, which made the roster cuts difficult and for the time being, they are planning on keeping all seven players in the room up on the active roster.