The Corner They Let Go Is Starting Next Door

The piece I filed two days ago noted the Colts' cornerback situation was thin heading into the season. It got a little more concrete this week.

Charvarius Ward appeared in only seven games last season, and the depth behind him was essentially theoretical — Justin Walley and Rob Carter are the names on the current depth chart, neither with meaningful production to point to. The Colts worked out multiple cornerbacks during the offseason and shuffled the roster at the position more than once, but the moves didn't stick into anything resembling a reliable second option.

What makes the current situation sting a little more is the division angle. A cornerback Indianapolis couldn't hold onto has landed a starting role with an AFC South rival. That's not a catastrophe on its own — roster cuts happen, players find homes — but it's a reminder that the talent was in the building at some point and the Colts came out of the process with less than a competitor did.

The opener against Baltimore is the immediate concern. Cam Taylor-Britt is on suspension, which further compresses whatever options exist at the back end of the secondary. My read is that the cornerback situation is the most fragile part of this roster right now — not the most important, but the one with the least margin for error if something goes sideways in the first few weeks.