Who will step up at wide receiver?
Wide receiver remains the most mysterious position group on the offense. With T.Y. Hilton entrenched as the team’s surefire No. 1 target, a large group trails behind fighting for the targets that Hilton and tight ends Eric Ebron and Jack Doyle don’t get.
Veterans Ryan Grant and Chester Rogers lead the pack of aspiring WR2s. IndyStar’s Zak Keefer reported that Grant has separated himself from the group and is the favorite to earn the starting job. At 27 years old, Grant spent his first four seasons in Washington before signing a one-year, $5 million contract with the Colts this offseason. Working with Kirk Cousins last season, Grant set career highs with 45 catches, 573 receiving yards, and four touchdowns. He’s prime for a breakout if Grant can earn the starting job and Luck stays healthy.
Rogers is the favorite to land WR3 duties, but rookies Deon Cain and Reece Fountain, plus youngsters K.J. Brent and James Wright are pushing the 24-year-old. Rogers enters his third season with the Colts, who signed the undrafted free agent in 2016. Rogers caught 42 passes for 557 yards and one touchdown over his first two professional seasons.
Cain looked ready to push Rogers for playing time until suffering a torn ACL during Thursday’s preseason opener. It was a surprise to see Cain available in the sixth round of the 2018 Draft. Many experts saw Cain as a second or third round selection. The 6-foot-2, 202-pound pass catcher ran a 4.43 40-yard dash and ran the fifth best 3-cone drill among receivers at the Combine. NFL.com compared his combination of size and speed to Roddy White. However, unimpressive jumping numbers and a history of dropping passes resulted in a draft weekend plummet. Cain has opened eyes with huge plays during the early parts of camp, but starting his career with a serious, season-ending knee injury doesn’t bode well for a unit that needs his raw talent.
Fountain, picked just a few slots before Cain, figures to earn a roster spot, despite being labeled as more of a project. With Cain’s season over, the rookie out of Northern Iowa is suddenly more in the mix. Fountain is an impressive athlete with a ton of upside. He’s considered a one-year wonder after breaking out in his senior season with UNI, bringing in 66 receptions for 943 yards and 12 touchdowns. Despite the success, Fountain didn’t receive a Combine invite. That didn’t stop him from jumping a 42.5-inch vertical on his Pro Day, which would have led all receivers at the Combine. Fountain is definitely a guy to watch throughout the Colts’ preseason, although you may not hear from him early on in the regular season.
