The Indianapolis Colts could have as many as six new starters when the NFL season opens. Here's a starting-lineup projection:

Offense

Quarterback (Andrew Luck): The Colts' playoff hopes are riding on Luck's health. He missed 10 games because of injuries over the past two seasons -- and Indy missed the playoffs in those seasons -- after taking every meaningful snap during his first three seasons. Luck did not take part in the Colts' offseason workouts following right shoulder surgery in January.

Tailback (Frank Gore): Gore, who has rushed for 13,065 yards, can move ahead of three players and into fifth on the NFL's all-time list by rushing for 620 yards this season.

Wide receiver (T.Y. Hilton): He led the NFL in receiving yards (1,448) and was 10th in yards per catch (15.9) last season.

Wide receiver (Donte Moncrief): Moncrief has the size and speed to be the Colts' best all-around receiver, but he needs to prove he can stay healthy. He missed seven games last season with a shoulder injury.

Tight end (Jack Doyle): He replaces Dwayne Allen as the Colts' No. 1 tight end. Doyle was second on the team in receptions (59) and receiving yards (584) last season. Those numbers might dip if the Colts need Doyle to be more of a blocking tight end.

Tight end (Erik Swoope): A former college basketball player, Swoope took advantage of his first full season in the NFL by catching 15 passes for 297 yards and a touchdown last season.

Left tackle (Anthony Castonzo): The "old man" of the offensive line, the 28-year-old Castonzo has started all 89 games he has played during his first six NFL seasons.

Left guard (Jack Mewhort): The key is staying healthy for Mewhort. He has started all 40 games he has played through his first three seasons, but he also has missed eight games, including six while dealing with a knee injury last season.

Center (Ryan Kelly): The former University of Alabama lineman started every game as a rookie, putting a stop to the Colts' revolving door at center.

Right guard (Joe Haeg): Versatile is the best way to describe Haeg, who started 14 of the 15 games he played as a rookie. He started games at both guard positions and at right tackle. He's better suited to the guard spot but can play other positions if called upon.

Right tackle (Le'Raven Clark): He'll get the first shot at starting at right tackle. Clark started the final three games in 2016, after being inactive for seven games earlier in the season.

Defense

Defensive end (Kendall Langford): His streak of consecutive games played came to an end at 135 last season when he was limited to seven games because of a knee injury.

Nose tackle (Johnathan Hankins): The former New York Giant was the Colts' most notable free-agent signing this offseason. After arriving, Hankins said the Colts had the best defense in the AFC. That's a bold statement when you consider they were ranked 30th in the NFL last season.

Defensive tackle (Henry Anderson): The Colts hope any tentativeness Anderson played with last season after returning from a torn ACL will be gone this fall. He had 12 tackles last season.

Weakside linebacker (John Simon): He has 10 career sacks and joins the Colts after being a part of the NFL's best defense in Houston last season.

Middle linebacker (Antonio Morrison): He played in all 16 games, starting four, as a rookie. He'll be pushed for playing time by Edwin Jackson, who started eight games last season.

Middle linebacker (Sean Spence): He had a career-high 54 tackles and three sacks last season with the Tennessee Titans.

Strongside linebacker (Jabaal Sheard): He'll get the first crack to be the primary pass-rusher, which is an area of concern for the Colts. Sheard had 13 sacks in two seasons with the New England Patriots.

Cornerback (Vontae Davis): Battling injuries and trying to play through them had an impact on Davis last season. A back-to-back Pro Bowl pick in 2014 and 2015, he had only one interception and a career-low 37 tackles last season.

Cornerback (Quincy Wilson): The Colts' second-round pick, who played at Florida, is projected to start. But the job won't simply be handed to him. You can expect Rashaan Melvin to challenge Wilson. Greg Toler and Patrick Robinson, who have moved on, often were injured in the past four seasons in the role opposite Davis.

Strong safety (Clayton Geathers): Geathers' health is a major concern for the Colts after he didn't take part in the team's offseason workouts following neck surgery in March. Geathers, who injured his neck on the same play he suffered a concussion against Tennessee late last season, is the Colts' most physical defensive player.

Free safety (Malik Hooker): The first-round pick, like Geathers and Luck, missed offseason workouts. He had hip surgery in the winter for an injury that he suffered while at Ohio State last season. Hooker, who is expected to be ready for the start of training camp, is the type of aggressive defensive player the Colts covet. He returned three of his seven interceptions for touchdowns last season.

Special teams

Kicker (Adam Vinatieri): The 44-year-old has missed only seven field goals in the past three seasons.

Punter (Jeff Locke): Locke, who spent the past four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, replaces Pat McAfee as the Colts punter and holder on kicks. He also will handle kickoff duties.

Long snapper (Thomas Hennessy): The undrafted free agent rookie out of Duke replaces Matt Overton, who was released after five seasons.