Colts cornerback Xavien Howard has retired and been placed on the reserve/retired list, opening an outside-corner vacancy just before Week 5. Indianapolis signed Trey Washington from the practice squad to the 53-man roster to fill the spot. Howard started for Indy this season but has been targeted heavily in two of four games, including a 112-yard, TD outing against the Rams. The team will evaluate options, with Mekhi Blackmon or Johnathan Edwards as likely next men up.

A Colts roster vacancy opened when Jaylon Jones was placed on injured reserve, leaving Indianapolis at 52 players ahead of Week 2 with Denver on the horizon. The team has not filled the spot yet, but has already bolstered cornerback depth by elevating Chris Lammons and adding Ulysess Bentley for depth and special-teams value.

With Ward sidelined by concussion protocols, cornerback depth is the obvious target, and Lammons—familiar with Lou Anarumo’s system—looks like the most likely fit. A linebacker addition remains a possibility, as the club has brought in bodies for workouts since training camp. The move could come Monday or Tuesday to maximize practice reps before the third game.

Johnathan Edwards climbed from a two-star recruit in St. Louis to an NFL roster with Indianapolis by grinding through the offseason. Indiana State didn’t offer wide attention, but a pro day flight and Senior Bowl stint put him on the Colts’ radar. His 4.42-second 40 at 201 pounds, plus a relentless work ethic, helped him rapidly gain confidence in a CB room loaded with veterans and young talent.

In training camp, injuries among teammates opened a door Edwards seized, earning reps with the starters and beating out a second‑round prospect for the final spot. He celebrated with a message to his wife and parents, then refocused for Week 1 against Miami, as Indianapolis begins to gauge how far a self-made corner can take him.

Kenny Moore II’s knee injury during Colts camp is not described as a major setback, ESPN notes, but a firm timeline remains unclear. With Moore out of practice and a string of cornerback injuries (Justin Walley ACL, Jaylon Jones and JuJu Brents hamstrings), Indianapolis faces a reshaped depth chart. Charvarius Ward anchors outside, while Samuel Womack III, Alex Johnson and Johnathan Edwards are in the mix to start opposite Ward. Moore has been a steady presence, logging over 1,000 defensive snaps in four of the last five seasons and posting three interceptions in 2024 while limiting yards per target. In fantasy terms, a Moore absence could push Womack or Edwards into more prominent roles, elevate Ward’s workload if he’s healthy, and test the Colts’ depth with early-season matchups against high-powered passing offenses.

Depth at CB could swing Week 1 projections for Indy, especially given the surrounding injuries. The trio of potential nickel/dime players—Womack, Johnson and Edwards—offer speculative upside in dynasty leagues or as aone-off stream if Moore’s return lags. As the Colts navigate murky timelines, fantasy managers should monitor practice reps and injury reports closely, because even a short spell without Moore could tilt fantasy value toward the next-man-in at nickel and opposite Ward.

The Indianapolis Colts are gearing up for training camp with a closer look at their roster, highlighting the rookie cornerback Johnathan Edwards from Tulane. Standing at 6'1" and weighing 201 pounds, Edwards adds impressive speed to the defensive backfield. Having accumulated 457 snaps on defense and 133 on special teams last season, he earned PFF grades of 64.5 and 65.9, respectively. Edwards' versatility and ability to play both defense and special teams position him as a promising prospect for the Colts as they strategize for the upcoming season.