The Indianapolis Colts ended their season opener on Sunday against the Denver Broncos with a narrow 34-30 loss. While stars like quarterback Anthony Richardson, running back Jonathan Taylor, cornerback Kenny Moore II and defensive end Laiatu Latu played little role in this game, reserve players and promising newcomers had the opportunity to show off their skills at Lucas Oil Stadium.

However, this raises a lot of questions for Indy ahead of Saturday’s preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals. With that matchup in mind, let’s tackle the five most pressing questions for Indianapolis that ultimately need to be answered at some point.

Who is the best tight end?

The Colts have an influx of talent at their tight end position. Kylen Granson, Drew Ogletree, Mo Alie-Cox, Jelani Woods and Will Mallory are the prominent names that have potential in Shane Steichen’s offensive scheme. But months ago, the consensus was that Woods was the best option once he fully recovered from the hamstring issues that hampered and derailed his 2023 season.

However, prior to the second preseason game against the Cardinals, Woods was running mostly second- and third-team tackles. This is concerning because the other four names mentioned above have outperformed him up to this point. With this being reality, it completely turns the tight end position on its head until a clear option stands out from the rest. Woods still has the most potential, but hasn’t shown anywhere near what he showed as a rookie in 2022. He’ll have another chance to showcase his talent on Saturday.

Is Micah Abraham the right one?

Former Marshall Thundering Herd cornerback Micah Abraham was selected in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft by Indy in hopes that he could help force turnovers and play well in coverage. So far, he hasn’t disappointed and looked top-notch at times on Sunday against the Broncos. After playing all over the field on 35 snaps, Abraham finished the game as one of the best players with six tackles (one for a loss) and a fumble recovery return for a touchdown.

Abraham also posted fantastic Focus on professional football Metrics in run defense (96.8 – best on the team) and overall (92.2 – second on the team to LB Zaire Franklin). It’s fair to say Abraham only played one preseason game against bench players and prospects. But Abraham showed similar football instincts to Kenny Moore II and seemed to constantly put himself in winning situations. If Abraham can be more than a flash in the pan, perhaps Gus Bradley will be a playmaker in the secondary.

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Can Jason Bean be QB3?

While everyone knows Indy’s two best quarterbacks are Richardson and Joe Flacco, the third quarterback position is more of a matter of uncertainty. While Sam Ehlinger was thought to have it secured ahead of Jason Bean and Kedon Slovis, that may not be so clear after the Denver game. Slovis didn’t do anything special on the field, but Bean looked great and showed off his athleticism and agility. Bean did have a fumble, but he was the most dynamic quarterback of all who took snaps on Sunday.

He finished the game 4/6 passing for 51 yards and a touchdown to former first-round wide receiver Laquon Treadwell. He also mastered Denver with his feet, securing 24 rushing yards on four carries for 6.0 yards per attempt. Heading into Saturday’s game, it’s likely Bean will see just as much or more action against the Cardinals. Can he continue his winning streak? If so, there’s a chance he could take the QB3 role away from Ehlinger, as Bean has more potential than the former Texas Longhorns signal-caller.

Can Dallis Flowers recover?

Unfortunately, cornerback Dallis Flowers delivered arguably the worst performance of his NFL career against the Broncos. Especially in two areas, starting with penalties. Flowers received two pass interference calls during the game, which showed how much he lagged behind the receiver in route prediction and adaptation.

Second, and arguably worse, was his duel with Broncos receiver Courtland Sutton. Flowers was hit on routes several times, but never worse than when Sutton sent Flowers to the field after a hard cut from a middle out.

Flowers performed worst Focus on professional football Defensive grade in 38 snaps for the team was an abysmal 27.7. Flowers was also a liability in run defense (41.5) and in coverage (28.1). Given how excellent Abraham looked and that Flowers was competing with Jaylon Jones for potential starters, don’t expect defensive coaches to accept a second performance like that. If Flowers falters again, there’s a chance he could be relegated to more of a returner role long-term.

Can Nick Cross be a legitimate starting safety?

At this point, the assumption is that general manager Chris Ballard and the Indianapolis front office don’t want to take the risk and sign two-time Pro Bowl safety Justin Simmons. This shifts all the attention from that fiasco to third-year pro Nick Cross. After a poor rookie year and a brief stint off for 2023, Cross needs to take the next step if he wants to be taken seriously as a safety.

If the game against Denver is any indication, Cross is trying to make a statement. Cross played 33 snaps and made three tackles with one pass defense. No one can complain about his grades. Cross had run defense (72.5), coverage (70.1) and overall rating (78.2) on point in this game. If that holds up through Saturday, Cross can continue to earn the trust of his coaches as the regular season approaches.

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