Indianapolis Colts rookie CB Jerraud Powers likely to start regular-season opener, Caldwell says

Indianapolis Colts rookie CB Jerraud Powers (AP Photo)

The Indianapolis Colts likely will start rookie Jerraud Powers at cornerback in the 2009 regular-season opener, Head Coach Jim Caldwell said Thursday.

As for the defensive tackle position, that's a bit less known.

Powers, a third-round selection in the 2009 NFL Draft from Auburn University, likely will start in place of fifth-year veteran Marlin Jackson, the 2006 and 2007 starting right corner. Jackson is starting the season at nickel corner as he continues returning from a knee injury that kept him out the last half of last season.

Powers and fourth-year veteran Tim Jennings – a 12-game starter last season – have worked extensively as starters in the preseason with injuries keeping starter Kelvin Hayden and Jackson out of the lineup most weeks.

“It will probably be Powers more so at this point,” Caldwell said Thursday afternoon as the Colts (12-4 last season, 2nd AFC South) prepared to play the Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11, 4th AFC South). “And I emphasize by saying, 'That's today.'''

Powers would be the first rookie to start the regular-season opener at corner for the Colts since Ashley Ambrose in 1992.

“If he does start, he won't be the first (rookie) to start in this league,” Caldwell said. “We're facing a couple. They (the Jaguars) have two rookie (offensive) tackles and a rookie corner, so it's not something that's uncommon. We think and expect if he is called upon to start that he'll do very well.

“Obviously, the skill level was there. He's a mature individual for his age – and I'm talking in regard to football. He's all business. You could see he had the making of someone that if things fell right he could come in and have an impact.”

Of Jackson, Caldwell said, “We're probably going to have him play a little bit more nickel than the basic corner position, but he'll do a little bit of both. He's progressing nicely.”

At defensive tackle, with starter Ed Johnson serving a one-game suspension, Caldwell said the Colts likely will play a rotation including starter/second-year veteran Antonio Johnson, second-year veteran Eric Foster and third-year veteran Daniel Muir.

Caldwell said Foster may start there, but that that emphasis would be on the rotation.

“I'll probably know a little bit better tomorrow, but it's going to be kind of a rotation between those guys – Antonio Johnson, Muir and Foster,” Caldwell said. “Foster may be right now, with Muir maybe in a backup role. It just depends, but you'll have kind of a three-man rotation in there.”

*** WHAT DO THE COLTS HAVE TO DO TO WIN THE AFC SOUTH? READ IFR EDITOR JOHN OEHSER'S FIVE KEYS HERE . . .

*** BREAKING DOWN THE ROSTER: IFR Editor John Oehser looks at the 2009 depth chart HERE.

*** THE CUTS: A list of the roster moves to get down to the 53-man limit HERE.

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