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Indianapolis Colts News & Rumors

Colts To Place DE Samson Ebukam On IR; Late-Season Return In Play

August 27th, 2024 at 10:30am CST by Sam Robinson

The Colts will take advantage of the NFL’s new IR rule, but they player they will have in mind for a return is rather interesting. Despite Samson Ebukam having suffered an Achilles tear, Indianapolis is not closing the door on a return.

Ebukam went down in late July, but rather than shelve him for the full season, the Colts are keeping a door open for a late-season re-emergence. Indy is planning to place Ebukam on IR with a return designation, per the Indianapolis Star’s Joel Erickson. This will mean the Colts lose one of their eight injury activations immediately.

Indianapolis is not stopping with Ebukam here. The team is also planning to place linebacker Cameron McGrone on IR with a return designation, Erickson adds. This will cut the Colts’ IR-return moves from eight to six before the season starts.

Players who landed on IR before 53-man rosters were set previously were out of the picture for those teams, but the NFL passed a rule that will allow teams to designate two players to return before the final 53s surface. Any player placed on IR with this designation will count immediately toward a team’s activation total, whether he returns or not. This would seem to matter with Ebukam, who faces a lengthy rehab effort.

Ebukam delivered a career-best season in 2023, totaling 9.5 sacks to help the Colts rank in the top five in that category. The team still has good depth here, with Kwity Paye, Dayo Odeyingbo and first-rounder Laiatu Latu in the mix. But it clearly views Ebukam as important. Cam Akers suffered a late-July Achilles tear in 2021 and indeed returned late in the regular season. Though, he did not display good form upon returning. The Ravens and 49ers saw Terrell Suggs and Michael Crabtree, respectively, return after offseason Achilles tears. But both players went down well before July in 2012 and ’13.

It is interesting the Colts are prepared to burn another IR-return move on McGrone, a special-teamer who logged 152 defensive snaps last season. They will not make Jelani Woods an IR-return player. Turf toe, which led to a recent surgery, will keep him out. The Colts are placing the third-year tight end on IR without a return designation, Fox59’s Mike Chappell tweets.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/26/24

August 26th, 2024 at 10:08pm CST by Ely Allen

There have been plenty of posts today about a number of teams releasing and waiving players ahead of roster cuts. Here are the best of the rest of the minor moves for Monday:

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

  • Waived: DE Justin Blazek

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

  • Waived: DE Levi Bell
  • Released: C Mike Panasiuk

Las Vegas Raiders

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

  • Waived: CB Willie Roberts

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Nelson was an effective swing tackle for the Lions in the past three years. While he wasn’t able to stick with the Giants, he’s likely to draw interest elsewhere in the NFL.

The Eagles like Sam a lot at safety, but with a number of veterans atop the depth chart, there wasn’t room for him on the roster. The team plans to retain him on the practice squad should he clear waivers, per Andrew DiCecco of 975 The Fanatic. The Buccaneers have similar plans with Isaac, Taula, and Wisdom.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/25/24

August 25th, 2024 at 9:04pm CST by Adam La Rose

With roster cutdowns beginning around the league, Sunday saw a number of moves take place:

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

Buffalo’s decision to cut Jones marks a blow to his efforts in finding a roster spot on a new team. Considering the latest report on his status, however, it does not come as a surprise. The Bills dealt with a number of injuries at the linebacker spot last season and Matt Milano will miss extended time in 2024 due to a biceps tear. In spite of that, the team will look elsewhere for depth options unless Jones is retained via the practice squad later this week.

Colts Release S Ronnie Harrison

August 25th, 2024 at 2:15pm CST by Adam La Rose

As early roster cuts continue around the league, Ronnie Harrison is among the players being let to by the Colts. The veteran safety was released on Sunday, per a team announcement.

[RELATED: Recapping Colts’ Offseason]

Harrison spent the 2023 campaign with Indianapolis, making seven appearances and three starts. The 27-year-old notched a pair of interceptions while logging a 51% snap share on defense. He was also a contributor on special teams, something which helped him land a new Colts deal in March.

That pact was for the veteran’s minimum and did not include any guaranteed money. As a result, this move will not create any dead cap charges for the Colts as they move forward with questions looming in the secondary. Julian Blackmon – who re-signed in Indianapolis after a lengthy free agent spell – is a lock for one starting role on the backend. Who joins him as the other safety remains to be seen, and Harrison had seen time with the first-team defense during training camp.

Others in that regard included Nick Cross and Rodney Thomas, and attention will now turn to their respective places in the safety pecking order. The former entered the league with high expectations as a third-rounder in 2022, but he has only made four starts to date. The latter, by contrast, has started 25 contests over his two seasons in the league. Thomas logged a defensive snap share of 82% in 2023, and even if Harrison is brought back via the practice squad he is likely to once again play a large role this year.

Harrison is a vested veteran, so he will not need to clear waivers upon being let go. The former Jaguar and Brown will therefore be able to sign with any interested team immediately; failing that, he could re-join the Colts via their taxi squad later this week. The team did not show interest in Justin Simmons, and an outside safety addition is not expected at this point. With or without Harrison in the fold, the Blackmon-Thomas-Cross trio will be used heavily in 2024.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/23/24

August 23rd, 2024 at 7:03pm CST by Ely Allen

Friday’s minor transactions to wrap up the week:

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

  • Waived (with injury settlement): WR Jaaron Hayek

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Washington Commanders

Colts TE Jelani Woods Undergoes Toe Surgery

August 23rd, 2024 at 12:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

AUGUST 23: Woods underwent successful surgery on Friday, veteran insider Jordan Schultz reports. While that update is positive, he adds a four-month recovery timeline is in place. The Colts will therefore need to manage another lengthy absence on Woods’ part, although he could return at some point late in the 2024 campaign.

AUGUST 20: Drafted to play in Frank Reich‘s offense, Jelani Woods earned a regular role as a rookie. The former third-round pick’s career has drifted off track since, however, and another setback has since emerged.

Woods, who missed all of last season, is battling a toe injury. This will cost him regular-season time, according to ESPN.com’s Stephen Holder, and the Indianapolis Star’s Joel Erickson tweets a surgery is on tap.

Colts HC Shane Steichen did not put a timetable on Woods’ return, but the third-year pass catcher appears to be drifting out of the picture for a team that has not enjoyed quality tight end production in many years. No Colts TE has eclipsed 450 yards in a season since Eric Ebron in 2018.

This toe issue comes after trouble with both hamstrings cost Woods his entire 2023 season. The Colts placed Woods on IR last year with the intention of activating him in-season, but an injury to his other hamstring nixed that plan. It again appears Woods will need a lengthy rehab timetable.

Chosen 73rd overall two years ago, Woods brought a 6-foot-7 frame to an offense in need at the position. He caught 25 passes for 312 yards an two touchdowns, working as an auxiliary cog during a rather chaotic Colts season. The team fired Reich midway through the 2022 slate, leaving Woods to learn a new system soon. Steichen has brought continuity, but the Colts have been unable to count on the former Virginia and Oklahoma State weapon.

Even as Steichen offered a turnaround, no Colts tight end topped 400 receiving yards in 2023. Kylen Granson, a 2021 fourth-rounder, led the way with 368 yards. Despite playing in 17 games, veteran Mo Alie-Cox totaled only 161. The Colts did not make a major move at tight end this offseason, though they still carry seven players at the position. Will Mallory, drafted in the fifth round under Steichen, remains rostered — as do Granson and Alie-Cox. Andrew Ogletree, a 2022 sixth-rounder, remains as well after a stay on the commissioner’s exempt list.

This seems like it will be a front-line Colts need come 2025, or perhaps the team looks to address the matter via trade or waiver claim soon. Woods can be placed on IR before Indianapolis sets its initial 53-man roster and still activated in-season, thanks to the NFL tweaking its IR rule this offseason. But the highest-drafted TE on Indy’s roster has lost all the momentum he carried to Indiana two years ago.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/20/24

August 20th, 2024 at 6:47pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are today’s minor transactions:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

  • Reverted to IR: LB Zeke Vandenburgh

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

San Francisco 49ers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Free Agent

Strong was a surprising release by the Cardinals during the regular season last year. At the time, Strong was coming off of his strongest NFL campaign, but head coach Jonathan Gannon claimed that the release was what was “best for the team.” While we still don’t know the nature of the suspension, or whether or not it’s even related to his January release, we are aware that he will miss three games.

DB Notes: Lassiter, Texans, Colts, Simmons, Davis, Lions, Chiefs, Dolphins, Hawks, Jags

August 20th, 2024 at 3:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Texans showed interest in re-signing Steven Nelson this offseason, but the two-year Houston starter ended up retiring. Houston has identified another clear candidate to start opposite Derek Stingley. The defending AFC South champions are prepared to roll with second-rounder Kamari Lassiter as their No. 2 cornerback. Not much drama exists here, with KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson indicating Lassiter has worked with Houston’s first-team defense since the offseason program. Although Lassiter sustained an ankle injury earlier during training camp, the No. 42 overall pick reclaimed his starter post — ahead of former first-rounders Jeff Okudah and C.J. Henderson — and will be expected to work in tandem with Stingley.

“For a young guy to come in and not be noticed a lot for doing something negative, everything has been positive with Kamari,” Texans HC DeMeco Ryans said. “He’s exactly the guy we saw from the Georgia film.”

Here is the latest from several other DB situations:

  • The Chiefs still need to decide on a No. 2 corner opposite Trent McDuffie. Long known for moving on from corners after one contract (as they most recently did with L’Jarius Sneed), the Chiefs have a few options — most acquired in 2022. Fourth- and seventh-round picks from that draft Joshua Williams and Jaylen Watson, who played extensively last year, lead the way. No one has seized the job, per The Athletic’s Nate Taylor, who has 2022 seventh-rounder Nazeeh Johnson, rookie sixth-rounder Kamal Hadden and former Cowboys second-rounder Kelvin Joseph making the team as well (subscription required). Versatile performer Chamarri Conner, a 2023 fourth-rounder, will be in the mix at corner, but Andy Reid said (via Taylor) this could be a rotation into the season.
  • Justin Simmons accepted a one-year, $7.5MM Falcons deal. That price being so far beyond what other veteran safeties commanded confirms a decent market formed for the perennial All-Pro. The Colts‘ questions in the secondary did not lead them into this chase, however, with the Indianapolis Star’s Nate Atkins indicating the team did not make the ex-Bronco an offer. Former third-rounder Nick Cross, recently re-signed veteran Ronnie Harrison and third-year performer Rodney Thomas have rotated in alongside Julian Blackmon in camp. Colts assistant GM Ed Dodds said no safety moves are anticipated.
  • Seeing his three-year contract traded from the Buccaneers to the Lions, Carlton Davis remains scheduled to be a 2025 free agent. Davis will be 27 for most of this season, which should give him a decent market — should no Detroit extension be reached in the meantime — come March. A new agency will be representing the former second-rounder for his next negotiation. Davis is joining Athletes First, per a recent announcement.
  • Jalen Ramsey and Kendall Fuller will start on the boundary for the Dolphins, with former UDFA success story Kader Kohou in place as Miami’s slot defender. Despite Cam Smith being a second-round pick, the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson notes Ethan Bonner — a 2023 UDFA who has stood out in training camp — is the frontrunner to be Miami’s top backup CB. Bonner, who recently returned from a concussion sustained in camp, played only 11 defensive snaps last season. While Smith recently came back after missing nearly three weeks due to injury, ESPN.com’s Marcel Louis-Jacques adds he is week-to-week after sustaining another injury against the Commanders. Despite playing 15 games last season, Smith only saw 20 defensive snaps.
  • The base value on Julian Love‘s second Seahawks contract checks in at $33MM, per OverTheCap. The three-year deal includes $11.97MM guaranteed at signing and dropped Love’s cap number by just more than $1.6MM. Option bonuses (worth a combined $4.8MM) are in place to keep the cap hits lower, with both Love’s 2024 and ’25 cap figures coming in at just over $6MM. Love’s 2025 base salary ($1.2MM) is guaranteed for injury and will shift to a full guarantee five days after Super Bowl LIX, ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson tweets.
  • The Jaguars‘ Tashaun Gipson reunion pact is worth $2.55MM, Wilson tweets. It comes with $525K guaranteed. The Jags will still be shorthanded at safety for a while. In addition to Gipson’s six-week suspension, Doug Pederson said (via ESPN.com’s Michael DiRocco) Andrew Wingard‘s recent knee injury will sideline him for at least a few games.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/19/24

August 19th, 2024 at 8:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Monday’s minor moves:

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

  • Placed on IR: T Earl Bostick

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

  • Signed: C Mike Panasiuk, LB Mike Smith Jr.
  • Placed on IR: C Ryan Coll
  • Waived/injured: G Josh Sills
  • Released via injury settlement: RB Trent Pennix

Kansas City Chiefs

  • Signed: LS Randen Plattner
  • Waived: OL McKade Mettauer

Minnesota Vikings

  • Signed: WR Justin Hall
  • Waived: WR Ty James, P Seth Vernon

New York Giants

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Signed: LB Kyahva Tezino

Seattle Seahawks

  • Signed: TE Michael Ezeike, TE Devon Garrison
  • Waived: LB Devin Richardson, CB Willie Roberts

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Signed: DL Brandon Matterson

Washington Commanders

Smith sustained a torn patellar tendon during a Bengals joint practice with the Bears, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler reports. He joins Evans in sustaining a season-ending injury during that workout. A 2021 fourth-round pick, Smith was believed to have earned the Bengals’ swing tackle role early last year. But he did not see any game action in Year 3. Having played in just three career games, Smith has seen his career hit a crossroads after this injury. His rookie contract expires after the season. This further depletes a Bengals O-line that will be without first-rounder Amarius Mims for a bit due to a strained pec.

A former Bengals starter, Adeniji joined the Browns in March. A knee injury sidelined Adeniji recently, and while Kevin Stefanski said the veteran O-lineman will miss “a little bit of time,” this transaction will likely lead to an injury settlement that sends him back to free agency for a stretch. The Bengals used Adeniji as a starter in each of their four 2021 playoff games, before spending to upgrade their O-line the following year. Adeniji, a 2020 sixth-rounder, played in one Vikings game last season.

Brown and Lamar Jackson sustained injuries during the Panthers’ most recent preseason game, adding to Carolina’s issues — headlined by Dane Jackson‘s significant hamstring setback — at corner. Formerly a Cowboys regular, Brown has struggled to stick with a team as of late. He spent 2023 with three teams — the Steelers, 49ers and Jets — and played in just two games. This came after Brown was with Dallas for six seasons, starting 69 games.

A five-game starter for the 2021 Super Bowl champion Rams, Hollins played for three teams last season. The former Broncos draftee was with the Packers, Giants and Chargers. He has 10.5 career sacks, one coming last season.

Colts Wanted To Re-Sign Gardner Minshew

August 16th, 2024 at 10:10pm CST by Adam La Rose

When Gardner Minshew joined the Raiders in free agency, he landed an opportunity to win a starting role. That decision was made in spite of a desire on the part of his former team to keep him in place.

Minshew signed with the Colts last offseason, following Shane Steichen from Philadelphia to Indianapolis. The latter served as the Eagles’ offensive coordinator before taking the Colts’ head coaching gig. The pair continued to work together after Anthony Richardson‘s season-ending shoulder injury thrust Minshew into the starting lineup. After proving his value on a one-year contract, though, Minshew signed a two-year, $25MM Raiders pact.

Indianapolis wanted to re-sign the 2023 Pro Bowler, Vic Tafur of The Athletic notes (subscription required). The Colts were not, however, prepared to match the $15MM in guarantees Minshew secured from the Raiders. With Richardson still in place on his rookie pact (and positioned to be at full health in time for the start of the year), the Colts elected to add Joe Flacco as a new veteran insurance option.

In Vegas, Minshew has spent the offseason competing with Aidan O’Connell for the QB1 gig. The latter had a spell atop the depth chart to close out last season, and he frequently received praise from head coach Antonio Pierce leading up to the draft. After being heavily linked with Jayden Daniels, the Raiders did not select a signal-caller in April, paving the way for a true Minshew-vs.-O’Connell competition in training camp. No decision on a winner has been made yet, but a commitment is expected after Vegas’ second preseason contest. Minshew does not plan to alter his preparation in the future regardless of if he gets the nod for 2024.

“If I knew a better way of doing things, I would have been doing it, you know?” the 28-year-old said. “So you just keep going, trust the process, continue learning and get better. And, you know, support whatever decision [Pierce] makes.”

Over $3MM of Minshew’s 2025 base salary is guaranteed, so he has a strong chance of remaining with the Raiders regardless of how the coming season plays out. If he handles a heavy workload as he did last year, attention will turn to the Colts’ plan under center and how well Flacco performs if he is called into action.

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