The Indianapolis Colts are expected to return from summer break on July 28 for training camp so we will be taking a look at each position group before the entire team reports.
Following the departure of Eric Ebron in free agency, the Colts tight end room looks slightly different than it did in 2019. However, the top of room should remain intact with Jack Doyle leading the way.
This group will be relied upon plenty as both head coach Frank Reich and quarterback Philip Rivers often utilize the position.
Expected Depth Chart
| TE1 | TE2 | TE3 |
| Jack Doyle | Trey Burton | Mo Alie-Cox |
Player To Watch
Burton will be the one to watch in the tight end room throughout training camp. After he was released by the Bears just before the draft, the Colts scooped him up hoping he will take on the Ebron role as the move tight end.
Ebron showed just how much a tight end can flourish in that role and while the situation is much different now than it was in 2018, Burton still has the skill set to make an impact as a pass-catcher.
Even if Burton is the TE2 in the room, it is likely he’s playing no more than 40% of the snaps on a per-game basis. But that’s enough work in the passing game to make an impact.
Storyline To Watch
There isn’t a whole lot going on in the tight end room. It’s pretty straight forward. One thing to keep an eye out will be for the development of Alie-Cox. He’s proven to be a sufficient run blocker but is still working on refining the nuances of being a receiver. His size and length make him a mismatch for opposing defenses, but he has to fine-tune his route running.
Another smaller storyline to watch will simply be the usage of the room. We know Doyle will be on the field roughly 90% of the time, but will the Colts offense favor more 11 or 21 personnel? Or will Burton really be involved in the passing game to the point where 12 personnel becomes a common theme?
2020 Outlook
The Colts tight end room is a stable one being led by Doyle and while there are some question marks as to Burton’s potential impact, the outlook of this unit should be mostly positive.