Who played the most (and the least) in the Indianapolis Colts' 34-6 preseason loss to the Atlanta Falcons?
The Indianapolis Colts suffered an ugly lopsided defeat in their preseason home opener on Saturday, falling 34-6 to the visiting Atlanta Falcons at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The Colts didn't play any of their veteran starters, which gave young, unproven players a chance to show what they can do.
Here's who played the most on offense, defense, and special teams.
OFFENSE
- LT Blake Freeland: 50 (100%)
- LG Dalton Tucker: 50 (100%)
- RG Jimmy Morrissey: 50 (100%)
- RT Josh Sills: 50 (100%)
- C Josh Kreutz: 34 (68%)
- WR Raylen Sharpe: 29 (58%)
- WR Deion Burks: 27 (54%)
- RB Seth McGowan: 27 (54%)
- QB Riley Leonard: 27 (54%)
- WR Coleman Owen: 25 (50%)
- TE Pharaoh Brown: 25 (50%)
- RB Anderson Castle: 23 (46%)
- QB Anthony Richardson Sr.: 23 (46%)
- WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine: 22 (44%)
- WR D.J. Montgomery: 20 (40%)
- C Geno VanDeMark: 16 (32%)
- WR Eli Pancol: 15 (30%)
- TE Tyler Moore: 15 (30%)
- WR Sahmir Hagans: 9 (18%)
- TE JJ Galbreath: 5 (10%)
- WR Ben Nikkel: 4 (8%)
- WR Laquon Treadwell: 4 (8%)
Quarterbacks Leonard and Richardson split the first (Leonard) and second (Richardson) halves, with Leonard getting four more snaps, based on how drives progressed. When the roles were reversed last week, Leonard still played more, getting 38 snaps compared to 27.
The starting offensive line played together throughout the game, with the exception of Kreutz, who was replaced by VanDeMark for the fourth quarter.
The Colts used just two running backs during the game, McGowan and Castle, as Jonathan Taylor was kept out as a starter, DJ Giddens is working his way back from a hamstring injury, and Ulysses Bentley IV left the most recent practice with an ankle injury.
The Colts signed Galbreath the day before the game, and he was able to play briefly despite not having practiced yet with the team.
DEFENSE
- CB Rob Carter Jr.: 53 (73%)
- ED George Gumbs Jr.: 46 (63%)
- CB Johnathan Edwards: 41 (56%)
- S Trey Washington: 40 (55%)
- S Daniel Scott: 38 (52%)
- DL Caden Curry: 35 (48%)
- LB Jaylon Carlies: 34 (47%)
- DT Tim Smith: 34 (47%)
- CB Mekhi Blackmon: 33 (45%)
- DT Cam Ball: 32 (44%)
- LB Austin Ajiake: 31 (42%)
- CB Jaylon Jones: 29 (40%)
- S Hunter Wohler: 29 (40%)
- LB Bryce Boettcher: 28 (38%)
- ED Jaylahn Tuimoloau: 25 (34%)
- S Jonathan Owens: 24 (33%)
- CB Cam Taylor-Britt: 23 (32%)
- DT Jerry Tillery: 23 (32%)
- DT Adetomiwa Adebawore: 21 (29%)
- DT Colby Wooden: 21 (29%)
- DT Derrick Nnadi: 20 (27%)
- LB CJ Allen: 20 (27%)
- LB West Weeks: 19 (26%)
- DL Micheal Clemons: 19 (26%)
- ED Mitchell Melton: 18 (25%)
- LB Tahj Chambers: 14 (19%)
- S Juanyeh Thomas: 14 (19%)
- ED Durell Nchami: 14 (19%)
- CB Mekhi Rodgers: 14 (19%)
- S Austin Brown: 11 (15%)
Carter played most of the game and was used inside and out, playing 32 snaps in the slot and 21 out wide, according to Pro Football Focus.
Safety A.J. Haulcy was the only defensive rookie draft pick who didn't play, as he's penciled in as the starting strong safety. Allen, meanwhile, made his in-game debut after missing last week's matchup against the New England Patriots with a hamstring injury.
The Colts alternated linebacker pairings Ajiake/Carlies and Allen/Boettcher through the first half, giving both duos an opportunity to play together with the second-team defense.
SPECIAL TEAMS
- DL Caden Curry: 20 (71%)
- LB Tahj Chambers: 20 (71%)
- LB Bryce Boettcher: 18 (64%)
- S Trey Washington: 17 (61%)
- ED Mitchell Melton: 13 (46%)
- S Juanyeh Thomas: 13 (46%)
- ED George Gumbs: 12 (43%)
- S Daniel Scott: 12 (43%)
- LB West Weeks: 12 (43%)
- LS Luke Rhodes: 10 (36%)
- P/H Rigoberto Sanchez: 10 (36%)
- WR Deion Burks: 10 (36%)
- WR Ben Nikkel: 10 (36%)
- WR Coleman Owen: 9 (32%)
- CB Johnathan Edwards: 9 (32%)
- WR Eli Pancol: 8 (29%)
- CB Jaylon Jones: 8 (29%)
- CB Rob Carter Jr.: 7 (25%)
- TE Pharaoh Brown: 6 (21%)
- TE Tyler Moore: 6 (21%)
- DT Cam Ball: 6 (21%)
- DT Adetomiwa Adebawore: 6 (21%)
- RB Anderson Castle: 5 (18%)
- K Spencer Shrader: 4 (14%)
- LB Devin Veresuk: 4 (14%)
- WR D.J. Montgomery: 4 (14%)
- LB Austin Ajiake: 4 (14%)
- S Hunter Wohler: 4 (14%)
- ED Durell Nchami: 4 (14%)
- OT Trey Wedig: 3 (11%)
- LT Blake Freeland: 3 (11%)
- LG Dalton Tucker: 3 (11%)
- RG Jimmy Morrissey: 3 (11%)
- RT Josh Sills: 3 (11%)
- C Josh Kreutz: 3 (11%)
- TE JJ Galbreath: 3 (11%)
- CB Cam Taylor-Britt: 3 (11%)
- S Austin Brown: 3 (11%)
- K Blake Grupe: 2 (7%)
- WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine: 2 (7%)
- LB Jaylon Carlies: 2 (7%)
- S Jonathan Owens: 2 (7%)
- CB Mekhi Blackmon: 1 (4%)
- CB Mekhi Rodgers: 1 (4%)
Rookies like Curry, Boettcher, and Gumbs are all projected to make the regular-season roster but may have to make their biggest impact on special teams, as they are part of crowded position groups on defense. Their special teams snap counts reflected that, as all three were among the seven most-used special-teamers on Saturday.
Burks is another rookie who is getting a lot of extra work on special teams to prove himself. Offensively, he caught four of five targets for 19 yards (4.8 avg.), and then returned five kickoffs for an average of 24.0 yards each, with a long of 31 yards.
The Colts now have one final preseason game on Sat., Aug. 29 at 1:00 p.m. ET at Lucas Oil Stadium. All teams then must reduce their rosters from 90 players to 53 by 6:00 p.m. ET on Sun., Aug. 30.
