Veterans and rookies for the Indianapolis Colts will report for training camp on July 24th, with the first practice taking place on July 25th.
Between now and then I will be previewing the Colts’ 91-man roster with a look back at each player’s 2023 season, along with what’s ahead for 2024.
I’ll be going through the Colts’ roster alphabetically, so up next is offensive lineman Lewis Kidd. To stay up to date with our other previews, be sure to head over to Colts Wire.
2023 Season Review
After being released by the New Orleans Saints during roster cutdowns last summer, Kidd was signed to the Colts’ practice squad in mid-September. Kidd did not see any snaps last season and was released on December 19th. The Colts then signed him to a futures contract for the 2024 season in January.
Kidd went undrafted in 2022 and spent that first season with the Saints. He played 78 offensive snaps with 62 of them coming at left guard and 14 as an in-line tight end when the Saints went with a heavy personnel package. Kidd allowed on sack and three pressures, according to PFF.
2024 Season Preview
The additions of Matt Goncalves and Tanor Bortolini in the draft made making the roster for those on the back end of the depth chart even more challenging, especially when you consider the versatility that each player has, with Bortolini able to play all three interior positions and the Colts believing Goncalves can play guard in addition to tackle.
Realistically, there is only one or maybe two roster spots available with all five starters on the offensive line from last season returning, Bortolini, Goncalves, and Blake Freeland accounting for eight roster spots.
Competing with Kidd will be Wesley French, Josh Sills, Danny Pinter, and Jake Witt, among others. Versatility will be an important factor when it comes to determining who earns that final roster spot or two.
“You’re dressing 48 guys, eight linemen. If you draft an offensive lineman, to just play one position, unless you’re the starter makes it very difficult,” said GM Chris Ballard about the offensive line. “You need to have a guy that can play both tackle spots, a guy that can play both guard spots and swing. And really, two more guys that can snap the football.
“I think it’s the same thing in any position – you’ve got to have some versatility to be able to play multiple spots. We kind of try to do that as much as we can every year.”
