Colts 2026 Roster Cuts Tracker: Who's Out, Who's In, and Surprise Moves

The 2026 NFL regular season is within arm's reach. The Indianapolis Colts wrapped up preseason play on Saturday with a loss to the Detroit Lions, making their exhibition record 0-2-1, but at least these games don't count toward their official 2026 record.

With that being said, Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen, general manager Chris Ballard, and Co. have a lot to discuss ahead of the NFL's roster cutdown deadline.

Each of the NFL's 32 teams has until 6 p.m. EST to cut down their rosters from 90 players to comply with the 53-man limit. There are some exceptions to the rule, however.

For example, players who begin the year on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) List will have a spot on the initial 53-man roster, but the team will need to waive someone once that player is officially activated from the list. When it comes to the International Player Pathway, the same rules apply; however, they are guaranteed a free roster spot of sorts, and a corresponding cut won't be necessary, as it's considered an extra exemption slot.

Still, the Colts have some tough decisions to make ahead of the aforementioned 53-man cutdown deadline on Sunday.

"There's going to be some moving parts here tonight, tomorrow morning," Colts head coach Shane Steichen said after practice on Thursday.

"I mean, we know the spots that are locked up and then there's going to be some conversations on the depth pieces and how they can help us, whether it's special teams or we use them offensively, defensively, and just kind of finalizing those touches tonight and tomorrow morning.”

Even though the Colts (along with the rest of the league) will have their initial 53-man roster exiting the weekend, subsequent waiver claims are on the menu moving forward. There will inevitably be more roster movement before the 2026 regular season officially arrives, so this deadline is only one step in deciding how the team will look come Week 1.

So while the Colts have most of their pivotal position battles ironed out ahead of roster cutdown day, remaining openings at depth spots, like across the offensive line and in the cornerback room, will leave Steichen, Ballard, and Co. with much to discuss on how they want to address these rooms.

The Colts bringing in reinforcements from opposing teams via cut players are almost guaranteed, but they must first break down their own roster before they can begin betting on the waiver wire to fall their way.

The following tracker is meant to serve as your one-stop shop for all of the Indianapolis Colts' cuts and waiver claims, as well as additional analysis for any surprising moves that occur throughout.

Colts Cuts Tracker (2026)

Name	Position
Ulysses Bentley IV	Running Back
Easton Stick	Quarterback
Blake Grupe	Kicker
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine	Wide Receiver
Anthony Gould	Wide Receiver
Pharaoh Brown	Tight End
Blake Freeland	Tackle
Kenneth Harris	Cornerback
Eli Pancol	Wide Receiver
Colby Wooden	Defensive Tackle
Austin Brown	Safety
Sahmir Hagans	Wide Receiver
Tyler Moore	Tight End
Mekhi Rodgers	Cornerback
Mitchell Melton	Defensive End
Raylen Sharpe	Wide Receiver
Jimmy Morrissey	Center
Daniel Scott	Safety
Trey Washington	Safety
Nolan Rucci	Tackle
Cameron Ball	Defensive Tackle
Trey Wedig	Tackle
Ben Nikkel	Wide Receiver
Anderson Castle	Running Back
Devin Verusek	Linebacker
Rob Carter Jr.	Cornerback
JJ Galbreath	Tight End
Roy Mbaeteka	Tackle
Durrell Nchami	Defensive End
West Weeks	Linebacker
Derrick Nnadi	Defensive Tackle
Josh Sills	Guard
Juanyeh Thomas	Safety

Colts Injured Reserve Designations

Name	Position
Will Mallory (thumb) designated to return	Tight End
Coleman Owen (concussion)	Wide Receiver
D.J. Montgomery	Wide Receiver

Colts Waiver Claim Tracker (2026)

Name	Position	Former Team

Analyzing Suprise Moves

1. The Colts released veteran defensive tackle Colby Wooden, whom they acquired from the Green Bay Packers in a trade for linebacker Zaire Franklin, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Wooden's preseason play certainly warranted the move, but it is shocking to see after the offseason he had. Wooden had a strong training camp and was often flashing against the Colts' impressive interior offensive linemen. Now the Colts are looking at a reserve interior duo of Adetomiwa Adebawore and Jerry Tillery, but don't sleep on second-year DT Tim Smith making the roster, either.

2. It's not surprising that Spencer Shrader beat out Blake Grupe for the Colts' kicking job after preseason play, but it was entering the three-game slate. Grupe was 90% on field goal attempts throughout training camp compared to Shrader's 70% rate, making it his job to lose entering preseason play. Shrader struggled to find his footing after coming back from a torn ACL early in the 2025 season, but he turned it on once exhibition play began. Shrader went 5-for-5 on field goal attempts (2-for-2 on 60-yard attempts) during the preseason, whereas Grupe went just 2-for-4. It is a bit shocking to see the Colts' value in-game kicking so much, given the much smaller sample size, but it's clear Shrader got his swagger back when he needed to most.

3. Veteran wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine emerged during training camp and was considered to be close with Ashton Dulin in the team's WR3 battle before Keenan Allen was signed days before camp concluded. Even though he was regularly contributing during practice, it was 10-year veteran Laquon Treadwell who quietly remained with the starters. The Colts signed Westbrook-Ikhine for his red zone prowess, but Treadwell clearly earned the trust of Shane Steichen and Co. and now enters year eleven in the NFL as a gameday option after years of serving on the practice squad. Treadwell's upside on special teams ultimately gave him the nod over Westbrook-Ikhine.

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