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Indianapolis Colts News & Rumors

Colts Waive S Roderic Teamer

May 14th, 2021 at 9:38am CST by Zachary Links

The Colts have waived safety Roderic Teamer, per a club announcement. Teamer joined Indy on a reserve/futures deal back in January, but he was no longer needed after the team used a fifth-round pick to select Florida product Shawn Davis.

Teamer made six starts for the Chargers in 2019 and played on 39% of the Bolts’ defensive snaps. With action on 377 defensive plays, he was one of the season’s most active UDFAs. All in all, he notched one interception, one sack, and made 40 stops as a rookie. Pro Football Focus ranked him just 78th out of 85 full-time safeties, but Teamer still showed potential.

Then, in July, Teamer was hit with a four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. The Chargers, who figured they were already set at safety, released Teamer later that summer and he spent 2020 out of the league.

Now, the Tulane product will look to sign with his third NFL team.

Colts To Sign K Eddy Pineiro

May 13th, 2021 at 4:04pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Colts are adding some competition for Rodrigo Blankenship. Indianapolis is signing veteran kicker Eddy Pineiro, his agent Drew Rosenhaus told Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Indy signed Blankenship as an UDFA out of Georgia last offseason, and he spent his entire rookie season as the team’s kicker. He was shaky at times, and didn’t have a very strong leg at all. He was just 1/3 on attempts from 50+ yards, and the Colts wouldn’t even think about letting him attempt an extra long one. Blankenship was supposed to be an accuracy kicker, and he made 43 of 45 extra point attempts, but he did have a few critical misses from close range.

In the Colts’ playoff loss to the Bills he missed a crucial 33-yard field goal attempt, so it’s not surprising that GM Chris Ballard is adding competition. Pineiro signed with the Raiders in 2018, but spent his entire rookie season on IR. He was traded to the Bears the next offseason, and was Chicago’s kicker for all 16 games in 2019, when he made 23 of 28 field goal attempts and 27 of 29 extra points. He spent all of 2020 on IR.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/11/21

May 11th, 2021 at 3:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:

Cleveland Browns

Indianapolis Colts

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Rams

New Orleans Saints

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tennessee Titans

Colts To Sign DT Antwaun Woods

May 11th, 2021 at 3:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

Shortly after the Cowboys made Antwaun Woods a post-draft cut, he booked a Colts visit. That meeting will lead to a deal. The Colts and Woods agreed to terms on a one-year contract Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

Woods met with the Colts on Monday and will now be in line to provide depth for Indianapolis’ DeForest Buckner-led D-tackle crew. Woods has been a starter for multiple seasons, working as such 32 times for the Cowboys from 2018-20.

While Woods’ time in Dallas did not overlap with Colts DC Matt Eberflus‘, with the former Titans UDFA landing in Texas in 2018, the 318-pound defender will be tasked with helping Eberflus’ Indianapolis unit. Buckner and Grover Stewart serve as the Colts’ first-string defensive tackles, but versatile performer Denico Autry left in free agency. Woods, 28, has more experience than Indianapolis’ other inside rotational options.

The Colts did draft a player who profiles as an inside defender this year, or a cog that could see time at both end and tackle, in second-rounder Dayo Odeyingbo. But the 6-foot-6 Vanderbilt product suffered an Achilles tear in January and may not play until 2022. In the meantime, Woods will aim to help. He did finish outside Pro Football Focus’ top 80 interior defenders last season, but the Colts likely hold a different view of his capabilities.

Eric Fisher May Not Play Until October

May 10th, 2021 at 3:42pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Colts just gave Eric Fisher $9.4MM for the 2021 season, but don’t count on him being ready to play right away. There’s a chance Fisher isn’t ready to play until early October, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets.

That would mean Fisher could easily miss the first month-plus of the season. Rapoport writes that the Colts “won’t push” Fisher in his rehab, despite the fact they’ve only got him on a short-term deal. The Colts signed Sam Tevi this offseason, who will presumably open the year as the starter protecting Carson Wentz‘s blindside. That’s not very good news for Wentz.

Tevi was a starter for the Chargers the past three seasons, but the 2017 sixth-round pick never played very well. There’s a reason Indy was able to sign him for only $2.5MM back in March. Regardless the team surprised many by not drafting a tackle, so it appears they’re comfortable with Tevi.

Fisher, of course, tore his Achilles in January. The first overall pick of the 2013 draft made the Pro Bowl for his work during the regular season, but has now suffered serious injuries in back to back years. Either way, he’s about the best possible Anthony Castonzo replacement Colts fans could’ve hoped for at this time of year.

Colts To Sign Eric Fisher

May 10th, 2021 at 11:59am CST by Zachary Links

The Colts have agreed to sign Eric Fisher, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Once finalized, it’ll be a one-year, $9.4MM deal for the Pro Bowl tackle. 

Fisher will now be tasked with protecting Carson Wentz’s blindside. He’ll also have some big shoes to fill, taking over for the job previously held by Anthony Castonzo. The former No. 1 overall pick should be well equipped for the role and he certainly profiles as a better option than the incumbents. After passing on elite tackles in the draft, the Colts were left with newcomers Sam Tevi and Julie’n Davenport as their best LT candidates.

The 30-year-old did not miss a start due to injury from 2014-18, but core muscle surgery derailed him afterwards. But, when he retook the field in 2019, he helped lift the Chiefs to a late-season win streak that culminated in a Super Bowl LIV victory. Last year, he was wiped out by an Achilles tear. The Chiefs opted to release him this offseason, paving the way for former Ravens standout Orlando Brown Jr.

The Colts are comfortable with Fisher’s rehab (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport), though he’s less than certain to be ready for Week 1. Either way, it’s a notable upgrade for Indy, especially since they can now keep guard Quenton Nelson on the interior.

Antwaun Woods Visiting Colts

May 10th, 2021 at 10:19am CST by Zachary Links

The Colts are set to meet with defensive tackle Antwaun Woods (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter). This marks Woods’ first known visit since he was released by the Cowboys last week.

The Cowboys retained Woods as a restricted free agent, but opted to cut him after adding younger (and cheaper) defensive linemen in the draft. Now, fourth-rounder Osa Odighizuwa and sixth-rounder Quinton Bohanna have a clearer path to the field in Dallas. Meanwhile, in Indy, Woods could backstop starters DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart. But, odds are, there’d be only one spot available between him and reserve Taylor Stallworth.

Woods has started most of his games for Dallas over the past three years, tallying 80 tackles, four tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and a pair of fumble recoveries.

Colts Still Considering Eric Fisher

May 8th, 2021 at 8:09pm CST by Zachary Links

Eric Fisher‘s Thursday visit with the Colts ended without a deal. However, a league source tells Jim Ayello of the Indy Star (Twitter link) that the visit went well and a deal remains possible for the veteran left tackle.

The Colts passed on adding a top-level tackle in the draft, so the eight-year Chiefs starter could be a solid candidate for them. It also helps that he has history with GM Chris Ballard who was in KC when they tapped Fisher No. 1 overall in 2013 and extended him in 2016. Now, they need a solid LT to help replace Anthony Castonzo.

The Colts do have other options, including newcomers Sam Tevi and Julie’n Davenport. However, Fisher laps both in accomplishments and experience. The 30-year-old blocker did not miss a start due to injury from 2014-18 and proved instrumental upon return from core muscle surgery in 2019; his re-emergence coincided with the Chiefs’ late-season win streak that ended with a Super Bowl LIV victory.

The Chiefs dropped Fisher, a two-time Pro Bowler after he suffered a torn Achilles’ tendon in the AFC championship game. Since then, they’ve replaced him by trading for Ravens standout Orlando Brown Jr.

Colts Bring In 5 UDFAs

May 8th, 2021 at 3:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Colts have assembled their post-draft group, agreeing to terms with five UDFAs. Here is Indianapolis’ initial undrafted haul:

The Colts gave Jackson a lofty (for a UDFA) signing bonus, with NFL reporter Aaron Wilson tweeting the ex-Duke back will collect $45K to sign. Only two running backs clocked faster 40-yard dash times at 2021 pro days than Jackson’s 4.4-second sprint, according to Colts.com. Despite not topping 175 carries in any of his college seasons, Jackson totaled 2,267 rushing yards during a three-season run as a starter.

Vaughns will join former Trojans teammate Michael Pittman Jr. with the Colts; the former enjoyed a four-year run as a key USC aerial contributor. Working with Sam Darnold and 2022 first-round prospect Kedon Slovis, Vaughns totaled 2,801 receiving yards and 20 touchdown catches in four seasons. The 6-foot-2 wideout also saw extensive action as a punt returner. He posted 800-plus-yard seasons as a freshman and junior and was on pace for another in the Pac-12’s COVID-19-abbreviated 2020 slate.

Kaufusi will follow brothers Corbin and Bronson into the NFL. A 2016 Ravens draftee, Bronson played for the Ravens and Jets from 2017-19. The Packers and 49ers, respectively, gave Bronson and Corbin reserve/futures contracts in January. Father Steve Kaufusi also played in the NFL, spending time with the Buddy Ryan-era Eagles.

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