Takeaways from the Colts' first depth chart

The Indianapolis Colts released their first depth chart of the season Tuesday with the preseason opener at 4 p.m. Saturday in Buffalo. An important reminder: These depth charts are done by teams' communications department and don't necessarily reflect the thoughts of the coaching staff. Here's a position by position look at the depth chart.

OFFENSE

Quarterback

Starter: Matt Ryan

Reserves: Nick Foles, Sam Ehlinger, Jack Coan

Nothing to see here.

Running backs

Starter: Jonathan Taylor

Reserves: Nyheim Hines, Phillip Lindsay, Ty'Son Williams, Deon Jackson, D'Vonte Price, C.J. Verdell

Veteran 1,000-yard back Phillip Lindsay is no surprise in the No. 3 spot and there could be a great deal of volatility deep on the depth chart. Williams' college career was ended by a torn anterior cruciate ligament in 2019 after rushing for a total of 1,120 yards at North Carolina, South Carolina and Brigham Young.

Wide receivers

Starters: Michael Pittman Jr., Parris Campbell, Alex Pierce

Reserves: Ashton Dulin, Keke Coutee, Dezmon Patmon, Isaiah Ford, Ethan Fernea, D.J. Montgomery, DeMichael Harris, Michael Young Jr., Samson Nacua, Mike Strachan

No surprises here as Strachan is on the PUP list and hasn't practiced yet. Pittman, Campbell, Pierce and Dulin are a clear top 4, who else makes the roster will be determined by training camp and special teams impact.

Tight ends

Starters: Mo Alie-Cox, Kylen Granson

Reserves: Drew Ogletree, Jelani Woods, Nikola Kalinic, Michael Jacobson

Again, no surprises for an inexperienced unit. Granson is the best pure receivers of the group, earning the second starting nod with draft picks Ogletree and Woods holding down the top backup spots.

Offensive line

Left tackle: Matt Pryor, Bernhard Raimann, Jordan Murray

Left guard: Quenton Nelson, Jason Spriggs, Brandon Kemp

Center: Ryan Kelly, Wesley French, Alex Mollette

Right guard: Danny Pinter, Will Fries, Josh Seltzner

Right tackle: Braden Smith, Ryan Van Demark, Dennis Kelly

No surprises for anyone following training camp coverage with Pryor and Pinter taking over the open starting spots. Raimann, an athletic but inexperienced third-rounder, has been behind Pryor so far in training camp. Veteran tackle Dennis Kelly being third string is noteworthy but he's been dealing with a knee injury.

More:Insider: Bernhard Raimann's unlikely NFL path drives Colts' hope he's franchise left tackle

DEFENSE

Defensive ends

Starters: Yannick Ngakoue, Kwity Paye

Reserves: Ben Banogu, Tyquan Lewis, Dayo Odeyingbo, Ifeadi Odenigbo, Kameron Cline

Second-year player Dayo Odeyingbo being third string behind the perennial disappointment Ben Banagu is an interesting item on the depth chart. Again, it's early to be reading too much into a team's "official" depth chart.

Defensive tackle

Starters: DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart

Reserves: R.J. McIntosh, Eric Johnson II, Curtis Brooks, Byron Cowart, Caeveon Patton, Chris Williams

McIntosh hadn't played since 2019 but was a regular rotation player for the Giants and has emerged as the backup to Buckner.

Linebackers

Starters: Bobby Okereke, Shaquille Leonard, Zaire Franklin

Reserves: E.J. Speed, Forrest Rhyne, JoJo Domann, Sterling Weatherford, Brandon King, James Skalski

Leonard is on the PUP list and hasn't practiced yet with Franklin handling the starting duties for a unit that usually has two linebackers on the field. Domann has been a training camp star and is the backup for Franklin.

Safeties

Starters: Julian Blackmon, Nick Cross

Reserves: Rodney Thomas II, Rodney McLeod, Will Redmond, Marcel Dabo, Armani Watts, Trevor Denbow

With McLeod recovering from a knee injury, there are no surprises here but the Cross-McLeod battle is still one to watch.

Cornerbacks

Starters: Stephon Gilmore, Kenny Moore II, Brandon Facyson

Reserves: Isaiah Rodgers, Tony Brown, Marvell Tell III, Chris Wilcox, Alex Myres, Anthony Chesley, Dallis Flowers

Facyson has had the edge over Rodgers, with Rodgers currently listed as Gilmore's backup (but don't read too much into that).

Special Teams

Punter: Rigoberto Sanchez

Kicker: Rodrigo Blankenship, Jake Verity

Holder: Sanchez

Long snapper: Luke Rhodes

Kick returner: Isaiah Rodgers, Ashton Dulin

Punt returner: Nyheim Hines, Keko Coutee

The position battle to watch is at kicker with Blankenship, the veteran, listed ahead of newcomer Verity. Rodgers and Hines have been among the best returners in the NFL so no surprises to see them at the top of the depth chart.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts: Takeaways from the first depth chart