Colts 2016 player preview: Running back Trey Williams

The Indianapolis Colts will report to training camp on July 26 with their 90-man roster, which will be cut down to 53 players by the end of the preseason.  To pass the time until camp, we're taking a look at every player on the Colts' 90-man roster.  Today, we're looking at running back Trey Williams.

Who is he?

There has been a lot of talk this offseason about the new additions at running back for the Colts, but there has been little discussion about those backs already on the team -€” especially Trey Williams.  It's easy to forget about him, as he saw incredibly limited action last year with the Colts, playing in just two games and rushing twice for 12 yards.  He was originally signed as an undrafted free agent last year by the Washington Redskins after playing collegiately at Texas A&M, where he rushed for 1,343 yards and 18 touchdowns while averaging 6.6 yards per carry in 36 games (he also caught 38 passes for 330 yards and a score).  The Redskins wound up releasing him after the preseason ended last year, though he was soon after signed to their practice squad.  In October he went through a stretch where he was waived from the practice squad and then re-signed a few weeks later, but then in November the Dallas Cowboys signed him to their active roster.  After a few weeks with the Cowboys, they released him, only for the back to be picked up off of waivers by the New England Patriots.  A week later, the Patriots released him, then signed him to their practice squad, then released him from their practice squad a few days later.  A day after being released from New England's practice squad he was signed to the Miami Dolphins' practice squad, though just four days later the Colts signed him to their active roster.

What is his role?

Once again, the running back position is wide open for the Colts after Frank Gore.  Robert Turbin, Jordan Todman, Josh Ferguson, and Tyler Varga will be competing with Williams for two or three spots, meaning that there are plenty of positions open on the depth chart.  It does seem as if there's a reason why Williams hasn't been discussed much this offseason, however, and it's because it feels like he's the odd man out.  Turbin and Todman both were signed as free agents and have more NFL experience than the others; Ferguson is a very talented rookie out of Illinois; and Varga impressed last year before a concussion ended his rookie campaign early.  As for Williams?  He's got physical talent that's noticeable, but he doesn't have the impressive play nor NFL production that can measure up to the others, as all he has to show for his career so far is a long list of transactions.  The position is open enough that Williams certainly has a chance to compete, but at this point it seems like he'll be left on the outside looking in when the dust settles after camp.

What are his chances?

The openness of the position gives reason to hope for Williams, but his chances don't seem too great at this point.