Colts QB Chad Kelly Suspended Two Games
Chad Kelly is back in the NFL, but he won’t be eligible to play for a little bit. The recently signed Colts quarterback has been suspended for the first two games of the season, per Joel Erickson of the Indianapolis Star (Twitter link).
Kelly signed with the team a couple of weeks ago. We heard right after that he could be facing a suspension, so this isn’t too big of a surprise. As Ian Rapoport of NFL Network points out in a tweet, the suspension is the result of his infamous arrest while he was a member of the Broncos last year.
The Colts obviously weren’t planning on Kelly playing anytime soon anyway, so this suspension likely won’t have too big of an effect on his status with the team. They signed him as a developmental option, to potentially one day take over as Andrew Luck‘s backup. It’s been speculated for a while now that current Colts backup Jacoby Brissett, an impending free agent, could be a candidate for a starting job next offseason, so Indy might be in the market for a new clipboard holder soon.
Kelly has always been talented, but has never been able to keep it together in his personal life. He had numerous off-field incidents in college, which caused him to slip to the last pick in the draft in 2017. He missed his entire rookie season due to injury, but made the Broncos last year as Case Keenum‘s backup.
Things were going well for a while after he impressed in the preseason, and at one point it looked like he was about to be inserted for a slumping Keenum. Then he was arrested in a bizarre incident following Von Miller‘s Halloween party, where he wandered into a random family’s home and plopped down on the couch. It’ll be interesting to see if he ends up making the final 53 with the Colts.
Andrew Luck Suffers Calf Strain
While this has been the smoothest offseason Andrew Luck has gone through in years, the Colts quarterback has run into a slight issue unrelated to his litany of shoulder trouble. Luck is sitting out OTAs because of a calf strain, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.
Luck suffered this injury earlier this offseason, per Pelissero. The Colts began their latest set of OTAs on Wednesday. They will convene for the final round of OTA workouts next week. It does not sound like their eighth-year passer will participate in those sessions. Indianapolis’ minicamp is scheduled for June 11-13.
Although the 29-year-old passer running into the same injury designation that has kept Kevin Durant out of the past several Warriors playoff games is notable, Pelissero adds Luck would start were a game scheduled for today. So this does not appear to be cause for too much concern, Luck’s recent history of setbacks notwithstanding.
At this point last year, Luck had not yet resumed throwing an NFL-sized football. He returned to Pro Bowl form last season and has reclaimed his spot as one of the league’s best quarterbacks, pointing to the caution the Colts are showing.
The Colts recently signed Chad Kelly and have Jacoby Brissett entering a contract year. Third-year UDFA Phillip Walker is also on Indianapolis’ roster, so the Colts will divvy up reps to Luck’s younger backups for the time being.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/28/19
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: OL Trevon Tate
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DT Chunky Clements
- Waived: DT Johnny Robinson
Kansas City Chiefs
- Released: TE John Phillips
- Waived: QB T.J. Linta
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: RB Matthew Dayes
New York Jets
- Claimed off waivers from Dolphins: LB James Burgess
- Placed on NFI List: RB Jalin Moore
Oakland Raiders
- Waived: G Chaz Green
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: WR Devin Ross
- Waived: G Johnny Gibson
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: CB Dontae Johnson
- Waived: LB Pita Taumoepenu
Tennessee Titans
- Waived: DL Dee Liner
Washington Redskins
- Signed: T Brian Wallace, T Jylan Ware
- Waived: T Adam Bisnowaty, T Juwann Bushell-Beatty
Poll: Where Will Gerald McCoy Sign?
Since being released by the Buccaneers earlier this week, Gerald McCoy has received his fair share of interest from about a quarter of the league’s teams. Once Tampa Bay quickly signed Ndamukong Suh as his replacement, the veteran defensive tackle became arguably the most impactful free agent left on the market. 
It’s not hard to see why the nine-year veteran is receiving so much attention. Since entering the league in 2010, the Oklahoma product has earned six Pro Bowl selections and a First Team All-Pro nod (2013) while recording at least five sacks in every season since 2012. He is the only defensive tackle who can make that claim.
The list of teams interested in McCoy’s service is a long one that includes the Browns, Ravens, Panthers, Colts, Bengals, Saints, Falcons and Patriots, who have reportedly pulled out of the running recently. As of this writing, only the Browns and Ravens have been linked to visits. According to reports, McCoy is more interested in playing for a contender and making the playoffs for the first time in his career than a pay day.
His fit in Cleveland would be an intriguing one. That would mean the Browns would roll out a defensive line that would feature McCoy, Myles Garrett, Olivier Vernon and Sheldon Richardson. That is one formidable front four. The Browns have been connected to McCoy for some time, but they decided against trading for the defensive tackle while he was under contract for $13MM in the upcoming season. After his Bucs release, the Browns might be able to sign him at a lesser rate without giving up any draft capital.
Staying in the AFC North, Baltimore would provide McCoy a contender as the reigning division champs and a loaded defense to work in. In 2018, Baltimore allowed the fewest yards and the second-fewest points in the league, and would become even better on paper with the addition of McCoy. 
Drew Brees is making his own pitch for McCoy to join the Saints. “He’s a stud, he’s a great player,” Brees said this week. “I mean you’re basically asking me if I would love having a Pro Bowl defensive tackle that I’ve spent the last eight years trying to run around and avoid, not have hit me, join our team. Yeah, of course.” McCoy would team with the recently signed Malcom Brown up the middle for a team considered by many to be a Super Bowl frontrunner in 2019.
The Colts have the cap space to sign McCoy and have been relatively quiet so far this offseason. The longtime star would fill an immediate role as a leader on a young and up-and-coming defensive unit that features the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year Darius Leonard.
Both the Panthers and Falcons have little in the way of cap room to sign McCoy, but that hasn’t stopped the NFC South squads from readying their pitches for the six-time Pro Bowler.
The Bengals are also interested in McCoy, but they are arguably the furthest away from competing for a playoff spot among the other teams listed. Though pairing McCoy with fellow standout Geno Atkins up the middle would instantly propel Cincinnati into the conversation in the AFC North.
So which team will be the one to land the impact defensive tackle? Is it one of the squads already rumored to be interested, or will a mystery team emerge and secure McCoy’s signature? Vote in the poll (link for app users) and let us know your thoughts in the comment section.
Where will Gerald McCoy sign?
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Browns 22% (1,014)
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Mystery Team 17% (799)
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Patriots 13% (598)
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Ravens 12% (547)
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Colts 11% (489)
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Saints 10% (442)
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Bengals 7% (335)
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Falcons 4% (196)
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Panthers 4% (187)
Total votes: 4,607
Colts Interested In Gerald McCoy
The market for Gerald McCoy is starting to take shape. The Colts “have a level of interest” in the defensive tackle, according to Mike Chappell of FOX 59. 
The Colts still have $58MM available after a quieter-than-expected offseason, so they could be real contenders for McCoy, the top remaining free agent. The Colts fortified their edge rush a bit by adding Justin Houston on a two-year, $23MM deal in late March and McCoy could serve to strengthen things up on the interior.
The Bucs didn’t think McCoy was worth ~$13MM for 2019, but he was still quite productive in 2018 as he posted six sacks and brought his career total to 54.5. Like Houston, McCoy offers an impressive resume with multiple Pro Bowl appearances plus a First-Team All-Pro nod in 2013 when he posted a career-best 9.5 sacks.
The Browns are also said to be interested in McCoy and the veteran would also make sense for clubs like the Patriots, Saints, Chargers, Cowboys, Broncos, and Vikings.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/21/19
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Indianapolis Colts
- Claimed: G Jake Eldrenkamp (from Patriots)
- Waived: OT De’Ondre Wesley
New York Jets
- Signed: WR Deonte Thompson
- Waived: WR Xavier Ubosi
Colts QB Chad Kelly May Face Suspension
The Colts gave Chad Kelly another NFL opportunity, but it’s not a given that he’ll be on the roster for Week 1. For starters, Kelly is hardly guaranteed to make the Colts’ 53-man cut. And, even if he does, Kelly could still face suspension from the NFL, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears.
The league office tells Rapoport that Kelly’s situation is still under review. The professional quarterback/amateur rapper has had several off-the-field missteps and his latest incident in 2018 resulted in a guilty plea to misdemeanor second-degree criminal trespassing and his release from the Broncos.
Before being cut by Denver, Kelly had an opportunity to leapfrog the struggling Case Keenum as the club’s starter. Now, Kelly is hoping to stick as a backup behind Andrew Luck and Jacoby Brissett while avoiding a ban to start the season.
Colts Sign Rock Ya-Sin, Parris Campbell
Nine of the 10 Colts draft picks are now signed. Two second-rounders — cornerback Rock Ya-Sin and wide receiver Parris Campbell — signed their rookie deals on Monday, the Colts announced.
This leaves only third-round linebacker Bobby Okereke unsigned. This is not atypical, due to the CBA’s vague language regarding third-rounders’ contracts. Many third-rounders remain unsigned around the league.
The Colts, who have made seven second-round picks over the past two years, traded out of the first round but stuck at their No. 34 slot to select Ya-Sin. The 6-foot cornerback played just one season of major college football, at Temple, after transferring from Presbyterian College after the university dropped football. Ya-Sin became a hot commodity during the pre-draft process and will be in the mix for immediate playing time.
Campbell led Ohio State in receiving yards (1,063) as a senior, becoming Dwayne Haskins‘ top target during the first-round pick’s lone season as the Buckeyes’ starter. Both Campbell and the Redskins’ Terry McLaurin (701 yards) were Day 2 picks, but Campbell’s 12 touchdown receptions led the team as well. Campbell’s 90 catches marked a single-season school record. Campbell will join Devin Funchess and 2018 sixth-rounder Deon Cain as new cogs for Andrew Luck, assuming Cain completes his recovery from an ACL tear.
Colts Sign QB Chad Kelly
The Colts have signed quarterback Chad Kelly, according to a team announcement. In a related move, the Colts waived defensive tackle Jordan Thompson to make room. 
Kelly attended the team’s rookie minicamp as a tryout player earlier this month and showed enough to get a longer look. Given his history, this could be his last opportunity to make things work in the NFL.
Kelly was once considered one of the top QB prospects in the nation, but he was kicked out of Clemson and his senior season at Ole Miss was cut short by a torn ACL and lateral meniscus. The Broncos made him “Mr. Irrelevant” in 2017 with the final pick in the draft, but he had an opportunity to be very relevant and supplant Case Keenum as the club’s starter in 2018. That never came to fruition thanks to a bizarre October arrest and his subsequent release.
With the Colts, Kelly will try to stick as a backup behind Andrew Luck and Jacoby Brissett. Brissett is likely to pursue a starting job next offseason, so Kelly could conceivably have a path to being the No. 2 QB behind Luck in 2020 if all goes well.
Deon Cain To Be Ready For Training Camp
- Colts wide receiver Deon Cain is expected to be a full-go for training camp, the Indianapolis Star’s Zak Keefer tweets. A sixth-round selection in 2018, Cain tore his ACL in the preseason opener and was sidelined for the entire season. Cain generated plenty of buzz before the injury and could add another weapon to an already steady Indy attack.