Taking a look at a possible Indianapolis Colts depth chart with two preseason games remaining

Indianapolis Colts WR Pierre Garcon (AP Photo)

Indy Football Report Editor John Oehser examines one possible Indianapolis Colts depth chart as the team prepares for the third 2009 preseason game at Detroit on Saturday afternoon . . .

With two games remaining in the 2009 preseason, we'll take a look at a possible Indianapolis Colts depth chart with one caveat:

No way this thing's right. Not exactly.

The reason is despite seeing nearly every practice, as well as the Colts' 13-3 loss to Minnesota in the preseason opener and a 23-15 victory over Philadelphia last week, it's not possible to know what the Colts are thinking at some positions. Colts President Bill Polian and Head Coach Jim Caldwell understandably don't discuss the details of what goes into cut-down day decisions, and there are always surprises around the Colts.

So, remember . . .

This is a guess. It is only a guess, but that being said, here's a possible 53-man Colts depth chart . . .

QB (3): *Peyton Manning, Jim Sorgi, Curtis Painter.  Comment: I'm not confident in this pick. Painter's a practice-squad fit, and the Colts could go that route, but if the Colts put him there, they may risk losing him.

RB (4): *Joseph Addai, Donald Brown, Mike Hart, Chad Simpson. Comment: Some fans have been down on Simpson, but he has returned kickoffs thus far. If T.J. Rushing gets back and fills the kickoff returner role, then the Colts may go that rout.

WR (4): *Reggie Wayne, *Anthony Gonzalez, Austin Collie, Pierre Garcon. Comment: With Roy Hall on injured reserve, Colts may go with four here and keep a player such as Sam Giguere or Taj Smith on the practice squad.

TE (4): *Dallas Clark, *Gijon Robinson, Tom Santi, Jacob Tamme. Comment: Hard to imagine this group not looking like this.

OL (8): *Charlie Johnson (LT), *Ryan Lilja (LG), *Jeff Saturday (C), *Mike Pollak (RG), *Ryan Diem (RT), Jamey Richard, Tony Ugoh, Dan Federkeil. Comment: It will be interesting to see how the Colts go here. Rookie G Jaimie Thomas could be kept on the practice squad. The Colts have gone with eight here in the past, but first-year veteran Kyle DeVan has worked extensively as a backup and may be an option. Cutting second-year veteran Steve Justice may be a tough choice, too. Federkeil can play guard and tackle and that could keep him around.

DL (10): *Robert Mathis (DE), *Ed Johnson (DT), *Antonio Johnson (DT), *Dwight Freeney (DE), Raheem Brock (DE), Fili Moala (DT), Terrance Taylor (DT), Marcus Howard (DE), Keyunta Dawson (DE), Eric Foster (DT). Comment: Honestly, this is the toughest area on the roster to call and some of these are very close to a guess. Don't count DE Curtis Johnson or DT Dan Muir out making the roster -- or rookie DT Adrian Grady, for that matter. Much to be determined here.

LB (7): *Philip Wheeler (SLB), *Gary Brackett (MLB), *Clint Session (WLB), Freddie Keiaho, Tyjuan Hagler, Jordan Senn, Ramon Humber. Comment: This area already produced a preseason surprise -- the release of veteran MLB Adam Seward. Senn is a valuable special teams guy and although Keiaho, Hagler and Seward are veterans, the Colts were talented enough around the roster that it was almost inevitable in retrospect that a good player or two may not make the team.

DB (10): *Kelvin Hayden (CB), *Marlin Jackson (CB), *Bob Sanders (S), *Antoine Bethea (S), Tim Jennings (CB), Jerraud Powers (CB), Melvin Bullitt (S), Matt Giordano (S), Jamie Silva (S), Michael Coe (CB). Comment: If T.J. Rushing wins the kick and punt returner job, he makes the roster here and possibly replaces Coe.

Special teams (3): Adam Vinatieri (K), Pat McAfee (P), Justin Snow (long snapper).

MAGNIFICENT SEVENS

Magnificent Seven I: Seven training camp thoughts and observations

Magnificent Seven II: On the Colts' defensive tackle position and WR Reggie Wayne

Magnificent Seven III: On the a pair of running backs and the offensive line

Magnificent Seven IV: On the Colts' offense, OG Ryan Lilja and WR Anthony Gonzalez

EXAMINER SERIES: TWENTY QUESTIONS WITH THE COLTS . . . 

1) Will Jim Sorgi be the backup quarterback?

2) Will Special Teams be Special?

3) Who will be the Colts' breakout player in 2009?  

4) Will loss of former Head Coach Tony Dungy hurt in 2009? 

5) What will defense look like in 2009?

6) Will DT Ed Johnson impact the defense in 2009?

7) How important is the return of OG Ryan Lilja in 2009?

8) Will K Adam Vinatieri be ready in 2009? 

9) Will WRs be improved in 2009? 

10) Will OL improve in 2009? 

11) Will S Bob Sanders be healthy in 2009?

12) Will secondary be one of NFL's best in 2009?

13) Who will start at RB in 2009? 

14) What roles will Tom Moore and Howard Mudd play in 2009?

15) Can QB Peyton Manning improve again in 2009?

16) Will the Colts be OK at LB in 2009?

17) Will CB Kelvin Hayden make the Pro Bowl in 2009?

18) Can TE Dallas Clark make the Pro Bowl in 2009?

19) Can OT Tony Ugoh develop into franchise-level LT?

20) Can the Colts win the Super Bowl in 2009?

THE POSITION-BY-POSITION PRE-TRAINING CAMP SERIES: 

• The QUARTERBACKS
• The RUNNING BACKS
• The TIGHT ENDS
• The WIDE RECEIVERS
• The OFFENSIVE TACKLES
• The OFFENSIVE GUARDS
• The CENTERS
• The DEFENSIVE ENDS
• The DEFENSIVE TACKLES
• The LINEBACKERS
• The CORNERBACKS
• The SAFETIES

OTHER EXAMINER COLTS TOPICS . . .

• Colts QB Peyton Manning on Steve McNair
• Steve McNair's career often intertwined with the Colts
• QB Peyton Manning omitted from ESPN.com's All-Decade team
• The best of the Indianapolis Colts blogosphere . . .
• 2009 Colts training camp schedule
• SERIES: Top Five reasons to worry about Colts in 2009 
• SERIES: Top Five reasons to feel good about the Colts in 2009
• Manning: Influence of Tony Dungy still felt around Colts
• A look back at 2009 Colts minicamp
• Mudd, Moore return inevitable, happy end to long story
• Colts to allow sponsors on practice uniforms
• Hints Emerging about potential Colts defensive changes
• Top Five Real Issues Facing Colts Entering 2009
• Top Five Myths Surrounding the Colts Entering 2009
• Top Five Underrated Players on Colts Entering 2009
• Top Five Breakout Players for Colts Entering 2009
• Top Five Nonissues facing Colts Entering 2009
• Why Colts QB Peyton Manning is primed for another big season
• Preseason dates and times
• Former Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy essays on Michael Vick
• Re-signing DT Ed Johnson makes DT situation even better
• SERIES: Peyton Manning Top 10 underrated moments.
• Breaking Down the 2009 Colts Schedule
• A recap of the Colts' 2009 NFL Draft