Sam Ehlinger, Dezmon Patmon and what we learned from Colts preseason loss to Lions

INDIANAPOLIS — A solid week of joint practices for the Colts passing game gave way to a sparkling day for several players looking for a roster spot on Saturday against the Detroit Lions.

Few starters played for either team, putting the spotlight on players fighting for roster spots in a 27-26 win for Detroit.

But these preseason games are about evaluation, and several players on the bubble made an impression in the passing game.

1. Battle for final WR spots heating up

Activating Mike Strachan off the physically unable to perform list this week has suddenly injected a shot of life into the battle for the final roster spots available at wide receiver.

The top four receiving spots seem set. Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce, Parris Campbell and Ashton Dulin have played in those roles throughout training camp. Only Pierce and Campbell played against the Lions on Saturday; Pierce made one catch for nine yards, and both players were out of the lineup quickly.

The Colts are likely to keep at least five, and potentially six, receivers on the roster, and until this week, few of the candidates had made enough noise in training camp to grab hold of that role.

Enter Strachan, who was forced to miss most of the offseason after tearing his meniscus in organized team activities. The 2021 seventh-round pick immediately made an impact on the practice field, catching several passes in practice and earning targets.

Strachan backed up that practice performance again on one drive Saturday, hauling in three passes for 45 yards and a 15-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter.

But another former late-round pick, 2020 sixth-rounder Dezmon Patmon, made his first big splash of the camp against the Lions. Patmon caught five passes for 103 yards and a 50-yard touchdown pass that required him to hit the brakes, wait on a throw from Sam Ehlinger and then dive backwards into the end zone. Patmon had been fairly quiet in camp, catching four passes in 11-on-11 work through the first three weeks, but he made a big play for a roster spot against the Lions.

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2. Sam Ehlinger continues to make his case for a roster spot

The Colts have long liked what Ehlinger brings to the table.

But by adding a veteran backup in Nick Foles, who completed 5 of 6 passes for 56 yards in a quarter of work as the starter on Saturday, the Colts put Ehlinger in a bit of a crunch. NFL teams usually keep two quarterbacks, sometimes keep three, and the decision is often dependent on either the injury situation the team is facing or the interest the passer would generate around the NFL.

Based on the way he’s played in the preseason alone, Ehlinger has made a case to stay on the 53-man roster. Ehlinger completed 10 of 11 passes for 88 yards and two touchdowns in the preseason opener, and after a shaky start to his game against Detroit on Saturday, he turned in another nice performance against the Lions, completing 9 of 11 passes for 136 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Ehlinger still has to learn to get the ball out of his hands faster — his mobility allows him to escape pressure, but those pockets close a lot quicker in the regular season — and his touchdown throw to Patmon was underthrown, forcing the receiver to wait on it.

But he’s been much more productive in his second preseason as an NFL quarterback, and that should only bolster the belief the Colts have in him.

3. Defensive line depth show promise

Indianapolis defensive coordinator Gus Bradley has repeatedly said the Colts want to have two waves of pass rushers.

For that to happen, a lot of things have to fall right, and there were signs that it’s possible on Saturday. Veteran Tyquan Lewis, who is coming off of a torn patellar tendon, was active as a pass rusher and made a key tackle-for-loss with a 4-yard stop. Dayo Odeyingbo recorded two sacks, and veteran signee Ifeadi Odenigbo was active again, making a sack and three quarterback hits.

Detroit did not play its starting offensive line — a group that has excellent tackles — but it’s still important for the backup defensive linemen to play well.

4. Tony Brown makes a case

The cornerback position is a lot like the wide receiver group; the top four spots are already locked up by Stephon Gilmore, Kenny Moore II, Brandon Facyson and Isaiah Rodgers.

The fifth spot will go to a player with versatility who can contribute on special teams.

Brown, a veteran, made a case. He did give up a touchdown, but Brown also made six tackles, broke up two passes, showed he can play near the line of scrimmage and picked off a pass in the first half, proving he can play the nickel in a pinch.

Already battling for a special teams role, Brown might have helped himself overall despite the touchdown.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts: Sam Ehlinger, Dezmon Patmon, Mike Strachan star in preseason loss