INDIANAPOLIS -- The outside praise for the Indianapolis Colts started back in March when they signed the likes of Andre Johnson and Frank Gore.

It hasn’t stopped since, as the Colts have been talked about as Super Bowl contenders.

Colts coach Chuck Pagano acknowledged that this is his best roster since coming to Indianapolis in 2012.

“Our roster is probably better right now than it’s been at any point,” the coach said Wednesday.

Why would Pagano, a coach who prefers to let the team’s actions speak for itself, credit the roster?

It’s because he knows the team will have some tough decisions to make when it comes time to make roster cuts. Receiver and running back will be positions that the Colts will have to make tough calls.

“Like I’ve said before, we’re going to have some tough decisions to make,” Pagano said. “I told the team we’ve got to get to 75 [players] after Week 3 and then down to 53 after the preseason. That’s the nature of the beast. It’s the hardest reality in the National Football League. We’re going to say goodbye to a lot of good players.

Indianapolis is getting good test of how good its roster is by having back-to-back days of joint practices with the Chicago Bears.