Most notably, Joe Flacco serves as Indy’s backup quarterback behind Anthony Richardson. Flacco went 1-3 as a starter earlier this season, completing 66.5% of his passes for 1,167 yards with nine touchdowns against five interceptions. He went 2-6 as a starter with the Broncos in 2019.
The Colts also have an ex-Denver wide receiver in Juwann Winfree, but he is currently on injured reserve with an undisclosed season-ending injury. Winfree was picked by the Broncos in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL draft out of Colorado, but he only appeared in three games with Denver.
Finally, Indy has two more ex-Denver players on the practice squad: running back Salvon Ahmed and pass rusher Durell Nchami. Ahmed had a cup of coffee on the Broncos’ practice squad earlier this season. Nchami spent part of last season on Denver’s practice squad and he was released from IR with a settlement in September. Nchami joined the Colts in November.
Sunday’s game will be regionally televised on CBS (view the TV map).
The Broncos will face Joe Flacco, Eric Tomlinson, Juwann Winfree and Tyrie Cleveland in their preseason opener against the Colts.
The Denver Broncos will face four of their former players when they go on the road to take on the Indianapolis Colts in their preseason opener on Sunday.
The Colts have four ex-Broncos on offense, all of them backups. Joe Flacco is their No. 2 quarterback behind starter Anthony Richardson. Flacco went 2-6 as Denver’s starter in 2019.
When Flacco enters Sunday’s game, his targets will include tight end Eric Tomlinson and wide receivers Juwann Winfree and Tyrie Cleveland.
Tomlinson served as a blocking tight end for the Broncos in 2022. Winfree was picked by Denver in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL draft out of Colorado. He dressed for three games with the Broncos but did not draw any targets in those contests.
Cleveland was picked by Denver in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL draft out of Florida. He spent three years with the Broncos, hauling in eight receptions for 91 yards in 23 appearances.
Former Broncos with the Colts
QB Joe Flacco
TE Eric Tomlinson
WR Juwann Winfree
WR Tyrie Cleveland
We asked Colts Wire five questions about Indy ahead of Sunday’s preseason game against the Broncos.
Ahead of the Denver Broncos‘ preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts, we asked Paul Bretl of Colts Wire five questions about Indy and Sunday’s matchup. Check out our questions and Paul’s answers below.
1. Should we expect to see Anthony Richardson and Indy’s other starters on Sunday?
(Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK)
Yes, after Friday’s practice, head coach Shane Steichen confirmed that the Colts’ starters, including quarterback Anthony Richardson, will play for a series or two. Steichen would also add that there will be a couple of starters who don’t play. This will be Richardson’s first game since Week 5 of last season. When Steichen was asked what he wanted to see in the first preseason game, he mentioned the importance of getting communication right because if that element is off with even one player, the entire play can go wrong.
2. The Colts have a pair of ex-Broncos WRs in Juwann Winfree and Tyrie Cleveland — do you think they’ll end up on the 53-man roster?
(Christine Tannous/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK)
I think both those players will be on the outside looking in. During the draft, the Colts added AD Mitchell and Anthony Gould, making for a more crowded receiver room. Those incoming rookies join Michael Pittman, Josh Downs, and Alec Pierce, already accounting for five roster spots. Returning from injury is Ashton Dulin, who has been a core special teams contributor and someone who has proven to be a reliable presence on offense if the Colts are in a pinch.
3. Who is an intriguing player on Indy’s roster bubble that we should keep an eye on this week?
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK)
Perhaps not on the roster bubble, but all eyes in Indianapolis are on the free safety position. This was a position that struggled last season and during the offseason, no outside additions were made to bolster the competition. We’ve seen a heavy rotation so far, with Nick Cross, Rodney Thomas, and even linebacker/strong safety Ronnie Harrison getting some starting snaps in practice. Nearly three weeks into training camp, there doesn’t seem to be any clarity around who will be starting next to Julian Blackmon come Week 1. Many Colts fans would like to see the team sign former Bronco Justin Simmons to provide some stability.
4. If you could steal one player from Denver and gift him to the Colts, who would you pick and why?
(Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports)
Cornerback Pat Surtain. Somewhat similar to safety, this is another position for the Colts that has some question marks coming into the upcoming season–although, unlike at safety, this positional battle is taking shape. The addition of Surtain would provide a massive boost to a position group on the boundary that didn’t make enough plays on the ball in 2023 and surrendered too many big plays.
5. The Broncos and Indy will face off again in Week 15 this fall. Looking way too far ahead, what’s your early prediction for that game?
(Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)
As of now, I’ll take the Colts. I’m bullish on them this season and a big reason why is because of their offensive and defensive lines. In the trenches on both sides of the ball, I believe there is the potential for the Colts to have top-tier units, and as the old saying goes, if you can control the line of scrimmage, you can control the game. I also like the team that has been built around Anthony Richardson on offense, with the offensive line, Pittman, Downs, Mitchell, and Jonathan Taylor, which as GM Chris Ballard noted before training camp, means that Richardson won’t have to do it all as a still relatively inexperienced player.
To read our answers to Colts Wire’s questions, click here.
Sunday’s game will be nationally televised on NFL Network. After traveling to Indy in Week 1, Denver will host the Green Bay Packers next week. To view the Broncos’ complete preseason schedule, click here.
The Indianapolis Colts signed wide receiver Juwann Winfree to the active roster from the practice squad, the team announced Tuesday.
Winfree will be taking the spot of tight end Andrew Ogletree, who was placed on the Commissioner Exempt List last weekend following an arrest for domestic battery.
While Ogletree is essentially on paid leave, Winfree will be taking his spot as the No. 5 wide receiver.
Winfree had a solid preseason, but has played only 21 snaps on offense this season. He’s spent much of the campaign on the practice squad and has had a role on special teams when he’s active on gamedays.
Also, the Colts signed tight end Eric Tomlinson to the practice squad.
The Colts made some roster moves after suspending two players.
The Indianapolis Colts made several roster moves Tuesday after announcing self-imposed suspensions of cornerback Tony Brown and wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie, the team announced Tuesday.
It isn’t clear what led to the suspensions, which were listed due to conduct detrimental to the team. Both Brown and McKenzie were healthy scratches for the Week 15 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers so there is likely a connection.
The Colts announced more roster moves after the suspensions Tuesday, including one player being added to the active roster.
The Indianapolis Colts activated defensive tackle Grover Stewart from the suspended list and waived wide receiver Juwann Winfree, the team announced Saturday.
Stewart just concluded a six-game suspension for violating the league’s PED policy. He will slot right into his typical starting role as the one-technique defensive tackle next to DeForest Buckner.
Also, the Colts elevated running back Tyler Goodson and wide receiver D.J. Montgomery from the practice squad to the active roster for the Week 14 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Goodson will provide some depth and special teams contributions with Jonathan Taylor (thumb) still on the mend. Montgomery also will work on special teams as the No. 5 wide receiver on the game-day roster.
The Indianapolis Colts made several roster moves both to the active roster and practice squad, the team announced Tuesday.
Following the news that defensive tackle Grover Stewart will miss the next six games due to suspension, the team added a player to the active roster while making a few changes to the practice squad.
Here’s a look at the moves the Colts made Tuesday:
The Colts elevated WR Juwann Winfree and G Ike Boettger to the active roster for Week 3.
The Indianapolis Colts elevated wide receiver Juwann Winfree and guard Ike Boettger from the practice squad to the active roster, the team announced Saturday.
Though it seemed earlier that the Colts were elevating running back Trey Sermon, the team announced that he was signed to the active roster instead of elevated. In doing so, fellow running back Deon Jackson was waived.
This is Winfree’s third and final elevation of the season. If the Colts want him available on gamedays, he will need to be signed to the active roster. He will serve as the No. 5 wide receiver for the Week 3 game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Boettger was signed to the practice squad following the Week 1 opener. With center Ryan Kelly (concussion) ruled out and guard Quenton Nelson (toe) listed as questionable, Boettger will provide some additional interior depth. This is Boettger’s first elevation from the practice squad.
The Colts elevated a pair from the practice squad for Week 2.
The Indianapolis Colts elevated wide receiver Juwann Winfree and offensive lineman Arlington Hambright from the practice squad to the active roster, the team announced Saturday.
Winfree is being elevated for the second consecutive week, giving the Colts five wide receivers on game day. He is allowed to be elevated one more time during the regular season before the Colts would have to sign him to the active roster if they want him available on game days.
Hambright will provide some offensive line depth. It isn’t clear if this is a signal about Quenton Nelson’s toe injury. Nelson is questionable to play but was able to practice in a limited fashion on Friday.
It may be that the Colts simply want the depth at guard in the event Nelson re-injures the toe during the game and can’t play. Or it may be a signal that Nelson won’t be active. We don’t have enough information on the matter either way.
We will know more about Nelson’s status when inactives are released an hour and a half before kickoff.
The Colts elevated two players from the practice squad for Week 1.
The Indianapolis Colts elevated running back Jake Funk and wide receiver Juwann Winfree from the practice squad to the active roster, the team announced Saturday.
With Zack Moss downgraded to doubtful for Sunday’s season opener due to a forearm injury, the Colts needed to add some depth to the running back room. Assuming Moss will be inactive, Funk will join Deon Jackson and Evan Hull as the active running backs in the backfield.
The Colts also brought up Winfree from the practice squad, which was an expected move considering the fact that they are carrying just four wide receivers on the active roster.
