Colts vs Bengals: Position battles to watch in preseason week four For

all three of you who intend to voluntarily watch the Colts’ week four preseason matchup in its entirety Authentic T.Y. Hilton Jersey , I salute you. From the moment the full schedule was made known, we knew that it would be a very dull affair. When your final preseason matchup and your first regular season matchup are against the same opponent, how can you not expect your team to show absolutely as little as possible? Yet that is precisely the situation in which a group of backup players will battle intensely to cement themselves on this Colts roster. While the game itself will be a snoozer, the outcome definitely matters for some of those players. There are several battles worth watching, so lets take a look at them.Offensive LineBrian Spurlock-USA TODAY SportsWhile the left side of the line is settled, the right side of the offensive line at both the guard and tackle positions is not. Matt Slauson has been the presumed starter at the right guard position, but that is not a guarantee according to Reich. Rookie Braden Smith is still contending for that spot. At right tackle, the competition is wide open. Our own Brett Mock thinks that is where Smith would be best suited to play, beside Matt Slauson. Austin Howard has provided ample evidence that he does not belong on the roster, let alone starting, which leaves Joe Haeg, an injured Denzelle Good, and J’Marcus Webb to jockey for that spot. It sounded as though Joe Haeg would get the nod to start tonight. Wide ReceiverBrian Spurlock-USA TODAY SportsThe wide receiver competition is another that remains a toss-up. Rookie 5th round pick Reece Fountain has a critical night ahead of him if he wants to convince the coaching staff that he brings production, not just potential Authentic Chester Rogers Jersey , to the roster. Guys like Zach Pascal, Steve Ishmael, and Kasen Williams have all wowed at various points in the offseason and will be gunning for the remaining spots. This competition may come down to special teams contribution. The guys who can be a difference maker on special teams will likely get the nod while the rest go by the wayside. This is an area I would not be surprised to see Ballard address with waiver claims, so even when this evening is concluded, the guys who “win” won’t be even close to done battling.CornerbackKirby Lee-USA TODAY SportsWho will start for the Colts at cornerback once the regular season starts? All along the defense there has been a lot of rotation as guys attempt to make their case for bigger roles. The cornerbacks have been no different. We have not seen clear indicators about who will be locked in where, and it is safe to say that the situation remains fluid. My prediction is that Quincy Wilson and Pierre Desir start on the outside and Kenny Moore gets the nod in the slot, but with Moore’s versatility to play in the slot and on the boundary, we could see either Desir or Wilson sitting and Moore moving to the outside while Hairston plays the slot. Injuries have muddied the waters in this competition, and we don’t yet know who will be active for the game. However, this is the last chance before the games matter for the starters to set their spots, and for the depth players to make a case to remain.Running BackThomas J. Russo-USA TODAY SportsThis spot seems less in peril due to injuries, but Frank Reich has said that Robert Turbin will need to show up tonight to earn his spot on the roster. It very well could be that we have all taken for granted that Turbin will make the team, but given that he won’t count against the roster and that there could likely be running backs brought in off waivers, that is not necessarily the case.Tonight’s game will also be an opportunity for Nyheim Hines to have a good showing after what has been a shaky preseason. He needs to show he can have a game where ball security is not an issue Authentic Braden Smith Jersey , and make himself a valuable weapon on the offense.Jordan Wilkins will be looking to show that he can continue to produce and further cement himself in as the best option behind a healthy Marlon Mack. If Mack is not ready to go week one, Wilkins is likely the guy who will see the majority of the carries, so he needs to prove to the coaching staff that he deserves that consideration by finishing strong.Report: Former Colts linebacker John Simon visited New York Jets John Simon may soon have a new home, and that home may just be on the east coast. The former defensive end and linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts took a visit to the New York Jets on Thursday, according to ESPN NFL Reporter Field Yates. Chris Ballard and the Colts endured backlash from the fan base after releasing Simon from the 53-man roster.Which came at no surprise after Simon led the Colts in sacks this preseason with 2.5. When Ballard met with reporters after Indianapolis set its final roster, he mentioned that it was a difficult decision to let go of the veteran because of the fact they are close to one another. “I’m close with John Simon,” Ballard told reporters. “He’s one of my favorite guys and favorite players. He knows it. And that was tough. I mean, that was a hard decision.”Simon, who was a a fourth-round pick of the Ravens in 2013, has compiled 13 career sacks for four teams. A year ago, he made three in nine games with the Colts last season.