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Indianapolis Colts News & Rumors

NFL Workout Updates: 12/19/18

December 19th, 2018 at 9:09pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s practice squad updates, all courtesy of veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer (on Twitter):

Arizona Cardinals

  • WR Bryant Mitchell; T Ryker Mathews; LBs Tobi Antigha, Sam Eguavoen, Pete Robertson, Alex Singleton, Jameer Thurman; K Ty Long

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

  • G Avery Gennesy

Cleveland Browns

  • RB Jarvion Franklin; TE Kevin Rader; G Ian Park; DT Lance McDowell; S Jack Tocho

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Los Angeles Chargers

  • LB Jameer Thurman; DEs Tobi Antigha, Kwaku Boateng; S Chris Edwards

New Orleans Saints

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • G Chris Schleuger; T Dakoda Shepley; DB Tevaughn Campbell; Ks Jon Brown, Trevor Moore; Ps Hayden Hunt, Ryan Winslow; LS Zach Triner

Washington Redskins

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/18/18

December 18th, 2018 at 9:20pm CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:

Arizona Cardinals

  • Signed: CB Jonathan Moxey

Cincinnati Bengals

  • Signed: S Chris Cooper

Cleveland Browns

  • Signed: OL Kyle Friend

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Signed: DE Farrington Huguenin

Tennessee Titans

Washington Redskins

Colts Sign J.J. Wilcox

December 18th, 2018 at 2:22pm CST by Zachary Links

The Colts signed free agent safety J.J. Wilcox, according to a team announcement. In related moves, the club placed linebacker Skai Moore (neck) and defensive lineman Al Woods (foot) on injured reserve. 

Wilcox, 6’0″, 212-pound veteran, has 75 career games to his credit with the Jets (2018), Steelers (2017) and Cowboys (2013-16). He didn’t do much for the Jets in his five games this season, but he’ll look to rebuild his stock for a Colts team that is pushing to make the playoffs.

Woods, 31, left the Titans in March of 2017 to sign with their divisional rival. This is the final year of his two-year, $5MM deal, so it’s possible that he has played his final game for Indianapolis. Before the foot injury, Woods appeared in all 14 games (eight starts) for the Colts and tallied 24 tackles, a tackle for loss, and one pass defensed.

If the Colts can top the Giants and Titans in the next two weeks, they’re nearly guaranteed a spot in the postseason. These injuries may thin out their defense a bit, but they’re still one of the hottest teams in the league at this juncture.

Teams Eyeing Colts’ Matt Eberflus

December 18th, 2018 at 11:03am CST by Zachary Links

The Colts are surging and the rest of the league is taking notice. At least two teams are doing homework on Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus as a possibility to become their next head coach, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears.

Eberflus was the Cowboys’ linebackers coach for seven seasons before signing on to be the Colts’ defensive coordinator under Josh McDaniels in January. When McDaniels bailed, the Colts resolved to do right by Eberflus and the other assistants who had already inked contracts with the team. It was a stand-up move by the organization and it paid off big time.

After an abysmal 1-5 start, the Colts have rallied to win seven of their last eight games and put themselves squarely in the playoff hunt. Their latest win – a 23-0 romp over Eberflus’ last employer – further underscored the talents of the 48-year-old defensive guru.

If the Colts can top the Giants and Titans in the next two weeks, they’ll likely land in the playoffs and complete one of the most improbable turnarounds in NFL history. If that happens, the Colts may have to search for a new defensive coordinator in the offseason.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/13/18

December 13th, 2018 at 6:34pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s practice squad updates:

Arizona Cardinals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

  • Signed: G Oni Omoile

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

  • Signed: WR C.J. Board

New Orleans Saints

  • Signed: WR Martez Carter

New York Giants

Washington Redskins

  • Signed: OL Roubbens Joseph
  • Placed on injured list: OL Casey Dunn

Saints Waive WR Brandon Marshall

December 12th, 2018 at 3:53pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints have released wide receiver Brandon Marshall, a source tells Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The move will create room for tight end Erik Swoope, who has been claimed off waivers from the Colts (Twitter link via Mike Florio of PFT). 

It was a short stay in New Orleans for Marshall, who was signed in November when Dez Bryant tore his Achilles just hours after inking his contract. Despite spending a full month with the team, Marshall never saw the field. Instead, he was used as a scout team receiver and was unable to leapfrog the team’s top five of Michael Thomas, Tre’Quan Smith, Austin Carr, Keith Kirkwood, and Tommylee Lewis.

The fact that Marshall could not crack the rotation in spite of injuries to Bryant, Cameron Meredith, and Ted Ginn Jr. probably doesn’t bode well for his NFL future. The transaction could also be a sign that Ginn still has a chance to return from IR this year, but there’s no word on that front just yet.

Marshall is a six-time Pro Bowler, but he hasn’t played at an elite level since the 2015 season in which he posted 109 receptions, 1,502 yards, and a league-leading 14 touchdowns for the Jets. Injuries have limited his effectiveness and overall production, and it’s fair to wonder if this will mark his last stop in the league.

Swoope, meanwhile, joins the club just hours after being discarded by the Colts. He was largely eclipsed by Eric Ebron and Jack Doyle this year, but he still managed three touchdown grabs in 2018. Swoope – for the moment – is one of four TEs on the roster along with Ben Watson, Josh Hill, and Dan Arnold.

Ballard Driving Force For Eberflus Hire

December 11th, 2018 at 9:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although Matt Eberflus was tied to Josh McDaniels when he accepted the offer to become the Colts‘ defensive coordinator, Stephen Holder of The Athletic notes (subscription required) Chris Ballard was the driving force behind the then-Cowboys linebackers coach moving to Indianapolis. The second-year Colts GM held Ebeflus in such high regard that he may have been the DC choice without McDaniels’ involvement, though likely not had the Colts hired a defensively geared coach. But in nearly all of the interviews the Colts conducted, Holder reports Eberflus’ name was broached. Despite a host of young players for a unit not expected to be particularly strong, the first-year DC has the Colts holding the No. 11 DVOA defense going into Week 15. The 2017 Colts produced the No. 27 DVOA defense.

NFL Workout Updates: 12/11/18

December 11th, 2018 at 9:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here’s the latest from the NFL’s workout circuit, all links going to NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account (unless otherwise noted). The first day teams can sign players to reserve/futures contracts is New Year’s Eve.

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

  • DB Tevaughn Campbell (link)

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Rams

  • LB Sam Eguavoen (CFL tryout) (link)

New York Jets

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Redskins

Colts Waive TE Erik Swoope

December 11th, 2018 at 4:00pm CST by Zachary Links

The Colts waived tight end Erik Swoope, according to a team announcement. The move was not quite expected, but it may signal the impending return of Mo Alie-Cox. 

Swoope originally signed with the Colts as an undrafted free agent in March of 2014. He made his first real impact in 2016, when he caught 15 passes for 197 yards and one touchdown. After losing his 2017 season to a knee issue, he returned this year to appear in seven games and catch eight passes for 87 yards and three scores.

Swoope was largely eclipsed by Eric Ebron and Jack Doyle (who recently went on IR), but he was regarded as a positive presence in Indy. It’s possible that he’ll be back after some roster juggling, but for now, he’ll be subject to the waiver wire.

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