- Colts left tackle Anthony Castonzo will miss another week because of his injured hamstring. Frank Reich confirmed (via The Athletic’s Stephen Holder, on Twitter) the eighth-year veteran is out for Sunday’s game against the Texans. Castonzo has not played in a game this season and has now experienced multiple setbacks in attempts to surmount this hamstring problem. He’s not yet being considered for IR, however.
Today’s workout updates are below. There were some notable names, including veteran quarterback Landry Jones, who was released by the Steelers at final cuts.
Cleveland Browns
- DTs Josh Banks, Henry Mondeaux, Aziz Shittu; TEs Pharaoh Brown, Donnie Ernsberger; LBs Obum Gwacham, Calvin Munson, Jacob Pugh; DEs Anthony Lanier, Damontre Moore; CB Kalan Reed
Indianapolis Colts
- WR Reggie Davis; S Marwin Evans; CB D.J. Killings; DE Cameron Malveaux; OTs Rees Odhiambo, William Poehls, De’Ondre Wesley
New England Patriots
- QB Landry Jones; CB David Amerson; WR Dontrelle Inman
New York Jets
- OL Isaiah Battle, Austin Pasztor; LBs Gimel President, Aaron Wallace; WR Ka’Raun White
Looks like the Browns are searching for defensive help, working out a slew of players on that side of the ball. Jones working out for the Patriots is interesting, as he isn’t really young enough to be seen as a developmental project, and Brian Hoyer is entrenched as Tom Brady‘s backup.
Here are today’ practice squad moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: S Dezmen Southward
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: TE Pharaoh Brown
- Released: TE Pharoah McKever
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: OL Rees Odhiambo
Here are Monday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Claimed off waivers from the Browns: DE Ifeadi Odenigbo
- Released: DE Jacquies Smith
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: C Hroniss Grasu
- Waived: DB Robertson Daniel
Indianapolis Colts
- Claimed off waivers from the Saints: DB Arthur Maulet
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: RB Justin Jackson
- Waived: RB Detrez Newsome
The Colts are releasing veteran running back Christine Michael, a source told Field Yates of ESPN (Twitter link). The 27-year-old lasted just three weeks in Indianapolis, the latest stop in his long-winding career.
Michael was always someone thought by evaluators to be high on talent, but could never put it all together. He re-signed on a one-year deal with the Colts this March after spending all of 2017 on injured reserve. Through three weeks, he appeared in just two games, carrying the ball twice for nine yards. Rookie Jordan Wilkins has emerged as a solid runner this year, and the team apparently feels comfortable moving forward with just Wilkins, Marlon Mack, and fellow rookie Nyheim Hines on the depth chart.
Michael was drafted by the Seahawks in the second round back in 2013, but never made a huge impact in Seattle. At the beginning of the 2015 season, he was traded to the Cowboys for just a conditional seventh round pick. Just a couple months later, he was waived by Dallas. After a short stint on the Redskins’ practice squad, he found himself back with the Seahawks. He spent parts of the next two seasons as Seattle’s starting running back, and played well, but was surprisingly waived in November of 2016.
He spent the rest of 2016 with the Packers, before signing with the Colts. It’s been a long journey for Michael, and he’ll likely resurface somewhere on a team that needs running back help. For his career he’s rushed for 1,080 yards on 254 carries (4.3 YPC) with seven touchdowns.
- Another AFC South tackle won’t play Sunday, but Anthony Castonzo‘s second hamstring setback in as many months has not caused the Colts to consider placing him on IR. Indianapolis’ left tackle remains week-to-week in his recovery, Frank Reich said (via the Indianapolis Star’s Zak Keefer, on Twitter). Were Castonzo to land on IR, he would not be able to return for eight weeks.
Here are Saturday’s practice squad decisions:
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: QB Phillip Walker
With Jack Doyle set to miss this weekend’s game against the Eagles, the Colts have added a tight end to their active roster. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the team has promoted Erik Swoope from the practice squad. To make room on the roster, the Colts waived cornerback Lenzy Pipkins.
After having spent the first four-plus seasons of his career with Indy, Swoope was released by the Colts last week. He ended up catching on with the team’s practice squad, a move that should pay off this weekend. Doyle is set to miss several weeks as he recovers from a hip ailment, leaving the Colts to roll with only Eric Ebron and Ryan Hewitt. Swoope will at least provide the Colts with some reinforcement at the position, even if he’s at the bottom of the depth chart.
The Colts were hoping they landed the next Jimmy Graham or Antonio Gates when they signed the undrafted free agent back in 2014. Up to that point, Swoope had never played organized football, but the six-foot-five forward did play 110 games for the Miami Hurricanes basketball team over four seasons. After appearing in only a single game as a rookie, Swoope proceeded to play in 16 games (four starts) in 2015, hauling in 15 catches for 297 yards and one touchdown. He sat out all of the 2017 campaign after undergoing minor knee surgery.
Pipkins was traded by the Packers to the Colts in late August for linebacker Antonio Morrison. He was waived prior to the regular season, but he caught on with the practice squad and was later promoted. In 12 games with Green Bay in 2017, the former undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma State compiled 15 tackles and one pass defended.
- The Colts will be quite shorthanded for their trip to Philadelphia as the team ruled out tight end Jack Doyle, running back Marlon Mack, defensive tackle Denico Autry, and right tackle Anthony Castonzo. Doyle’s injury is a big blow, as he formed an effective tight end duo with Eric Ebron through the first two games.
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad updates.
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Nigel Harris
- Cut: LB B.J. Bello
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DB Taveze Calhoun
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: CB Michael Hunter, WR Hunter Sharp
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: DT Adolphus Washington
- Cut: DT Aziz Shittu
Houston Texans
- Signed: WR Isaac Whitney
- Cut: WR Malachi Dupre
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: RB Jeremy McNichols
- Cut: QB Phillip Walker
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: TE David Wells
Los Angeles Rams
- Cut: TE Temarrick Hemingway, QB Luis Perez
- Signed: T Darrell Williams
New England Patriots
- Signed: WR Jace Billingsley
- Placed on practice squad IR: WR Riley McCarron
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Lavon Coleman
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DT Darius Kilgo, WR Cameron Batson, TE Anthony Firkser
- Cut: TE Jerome Cunningham