INDIANAPOLIS — The Colts have put themselves in the win column.

Indianapolis followed up two joint practices against Arizona by beating the Cardinals 21-13 on Saturday night, a game largely played by the backups for both teams.

The Colts and Cardinals held out most of their starters, customary for NFL teams after two days of joint practice work.

With that in mind, there weren’t many long-term questions answered on Saturday night, but a handful of key roster battles came into focus.

Colts news: Colts owner Jim Irsay: Chris Ballard is a 'blue-chip general manager'

The secondary still faces questions

Nearly every starter sat out Saturday night’s game, along with a handful of other players who’ve already locked up key roles.

But the projected starters who ended up playing highlight the uncertainty the team faces in the secondary.

Second-year cornerback JuJu Brents opened the game at right cornerback. Brents has consistently been one of the team’s starting cornerbacks during training camp, but he missed last week’s preseason opener against the Broncos due to a shoulder injury, and the Colts might have wanted to get Brents time.

Brents was flagged for pass interference and recorded one tackle, but he also suffered an injury to his nose that left him bloodied and knocked him out of the game. Injuries have held the second-round pick back since he was drafted by the Colts last April, and although a nasal injury might not be serious, it is another obstacle for Brents to overcome.

Colts news: Jelani Woods, JuJu Brents injury updates: Colts tight end, corner injured vs. Cardinals

Third-year safety Nick Cross has looked like he’s solidifying his spot in the starting lineup as a free safety, but Cross was in the lineup with Rodney Thomas II, giving Cross a chance to build on a performance the coaches liked against Denver.

Cross acquitted himself well, making five tackles and a tackle-for-loss, but his presence in the game underscores the reality that he’s started only a handful of games in two seasons in a Colts uniform

Ehlinger makes his case

Sam Ehlinger has been facing a unique battle for a roster spot throughout the spring.

Ehlinger has been a Colt for three seasons now, but he is not locked in competition with Joe Flacco for the backup job — Flacco did not play on Saturday night because his spot is secure — and the Texas product has far more experience than a developmental player like undrafted rookie Jason Bean.

Ehlinger’s spot on the 53-man roster will likely come down to a numbers game. The Colts can activate a quarterback from the practice squad to serve as the team’s emergency quarterback, a rule that was not in place last season, and injuries at other skill positions are squeezing the roster.

But Ehlinger remains the same capable, scrappy player the Colts have loved for a long time. Ehlinger wasn’t perfect against Arizona, but he completed 4 of 7 passes for 38 yards, ran twice for 21 yards and most importantly showed he still has some magic in the pocket, darting and scrambling around to create plays behind the line.

Indianapolis faces a difficult decision on Ehlinger in a week and a half.

Young defensive linemen show out

Samson Ebukam’s injury and Raekwon Davis’s illness have opened a door for roster spots on the defensive line.

Second-year players Isaiah Land and Adetomiwa Adebawore have been taking advantage.

Land, a player the Colts claimed off waivers from the Cowboys at the cut deadline last season, has been a consistent presence in the backfield in practice, and he backed it up with three tackles, two tackles-for-loss and two quarterback hits against Arizona.

Adebawore, a fourth-round pick last year, has been having a strong camp of his own, and he looks like he can be a backup for DeForest Buckner after recording a sack, two quarterback hits and a tackle-for-loss of his own, all while playing special teams.

Battle for backup running back job remains pitched

Tyler Goodson and Evan Hull aren’t giving an inch.

The two young running backs are competing for a roster spot and a role on the offense, and last week’s hamstring injury to Trey Sermon gave both players a bevy of chances this week to make their case.

Hull looked like he had the upper hand after two joint practices against Arizona this week.

But Goodson got the first snaps of the day against the Cardinals on Saturday night, and he made them count. Goodson has more burst than any back on the roster other than Jonathan Taylor, and it was on display with 35 yards and a touchdown on six carries, a spectacular rush that included Goodson making a cut and bouncing outside.

Hull wasn’t about to be outdone.

The second-year back picked up 26 yards on four carries, caught a pass for five yards and showcased his strength, which is an all-around game, good vision and a body capable of breaking tackles.

Indianapolis may end up keeping four running backs, particularly if Sermon’s injury is expected to linger.

And especially if Goodson and Hull keep giving the Colts reasons to keep them around.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts vs. Cardinals: Position battles on display in Colts preseason win