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Indianapolis Colts: Is Depth at Wide Receiver an Issue?

By Garrett Hagan

Jul 27, 2016; Anderson, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Donte Moncrief and wide receiver T.Y. Hilton during training camp at Anderson University. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kryger/Indianapolis Star via USA TODAY Sports
Jul 27, 2016; Anderson, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Donte Moncrief and wide receiver T.Y. Hilton during training camp at Anderson University. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kryger/Indianapolis Star via USA TODAY Sports /
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The Indianapolis Colts have started their three-week long training camp. While there are some positions of depth for the Colts, they have others that are questionable — wide receiver being one of them. Could this pose a problem for the team this season?

The Indianapolis Colts have boasted one of the league’s best passing attacks — excluding 2015 — when quarterback Andrew Luck has been fully healthy.

Over the years of the Luck-era, T.Y. Hilton has made himself a household name in the state of Indiana — and Donte Moncrief has quickly begun to follow in Hilton’s footsteps.

And then along came Phillip Dorsett — the speedy receiver from Miami that the Colts spent their first-round selection on in the 2015 NFL Draft.

Outside of those three names, not many people can name the other wide receivers that the Colts currently have on their 90-man training camp roster who could also make the final cuts before the season’s start.

Behind the three receivers mentioned above stands Brain Tyms and Josh Boyce — two receivers whom the Colts signed as free agents back in April. The skepticism about Tyms and Boyce is that they are both players who have seen action on the field, but have not fully proven themselves as quality receivers.

Since entering the league in 2012, Tyms has caught only seven receptions for 94 yards and just one touchdown. Boyce has 121 career yards on nine receptions with zero touchdowns through 10 games. Boyce entered the NFL in 2013.

Head coach Chuck Pagano was asked about the team’s depth at the receiving position, per ESPN.com’s Mike Wells.

"“We have three guys at wide receiver [who] we know about and then we have a bunch of guys [who] have talent, can run, have height, weight and speed and can catch and do all those things, but they have to go do it now,” Pagano said. “Those guys are all going to compete for that spot, and that’s what training camp is all about. We’ve got talent, we’ve got guys that are capable, they are just unproven.”"

In years prior, the Colts have usually kept around five wide receivers on the depth chart, so don’t expect any more or any fewer players at that position this year.

The only thing that may stir up a bit of unrest and concern amongst Colts fans may be questions regarding Dorsett’s growth from 2015 to 2016. Dorsett appeared in 11 games last season, having started in none of them. He recorded 18 receptions for 225 yards and one touchdown. The speed is there with Dorsett — having ran a faster 40-yard dash than Hilton — he just needs to prove that he’s ready to take the next step in his game if he wishes to be a viable No. 3 option.

Next: Indianapolis Colts Dealing With Safety Injuries Early in Training Camp

Thankfully, there are roughly two more weeks of training camp for the Colts — thus giving other receivers their chances at making the final cuts in September and ultimately giving the Colts some much-needed depth at the position. Things could get interesting as camp unfolds.

Be sure to follow Ink On Indy as we continue our coverage of training camp for the Indianapolis Colts.

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