Indianapolis Colts News & Rumors

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/18/18

Here are Friday’s minor moves.

Cleveland Browns

  • Claimed off waivers from Seahawks: DE Marcell Frazier
  • Waived: LB Austin Calitro

Indianapolis Colts

New England Patriots

Colts Work Out Cody Keith

  • Free agent quarterback Cody Keith is working out for the Colts on Wednesday, and previously auditioned for the Chargers and Rams, per Rapoport (Twitter link). A former four-star recruit, Keith was limited by injuries during his collegiate career at East Carolina, and was only attempted just 11 passes before moving to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Since that time, Keith has spent time in the Canadian Football League and in the Spring League, working on Johnny Manziel‘s team in the latter venture.

Breeland To Meet With Colts, Cardinals

Free agent cornerback Bashaud Breeland will visit the Colts on Wednesday and the Cardinals on Thursday, a source tells Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Demovsky hears his foot issue is healed and he is expected to be able to pass all medical tests. 

Breeland was one of the top cornerbacks on the market this offseason and agreed to a three-year, $24MM deal with the Panthers in March. Days later, the Panthers 86’d the deal due to an infected cut on his foot that prevented him from passing a physical.

Freak accident aside, Breeland has been largely healthy over the course of his four-year NFL career. The 26-year-old appeared in all but one of the Redskins’ games last season and has missed just four possible regular season games since entering the league in 2014.

Last year, Breeland tallied 47 tackles and one interception, which was returned 96 yards for a touchdown against the Chargers. Pro Football Focus bestowed a middling grade on Breeland as he played opposite of star Josh Norman, but he did improve from 2016 to ’17, per the advanced metrics.

The Cardinals’ need for a quality partner alongside Patrick Peterson has been well documented. This offseason, the Cardinals brought in free agents Bene Benwikere and Marcus Williams to compete with Brandon Williams for the second starting role. If healthy, Breeland would be their clear CB2.

The Colts, meanwhile, project to start Quincy Wilson and Kenny Moore at cornerback after losing Rashaan Melvin to free agency.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/15/18

Today’s minor moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Cleveland Browns

  • Claimed: OL Anthony Fabiano (Colts), OL Avery Gennesy (Jaguars)
  • Waived: P Michael Carrizosa, OL Christian Schneider

Detroit Lions

Los Angeles Rams

  • Claimed: RB Larry Rose (Titans)

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

  • Signed: DL Blaine Woodson
  • Claimed: CB C.J. Goodwin (Giants)
  • Waived: WR DeAndre Carter

Colts Meet With RB Terrance West

Former Ravens starting running back Terrance West visited the Colts on Tuesday, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). West also met with the Eagles last week, so it sounds like his market is starting to pick up. 

At this stage of the offseason, the signing of unrestricted free agents no longer counts against the 2019 compensatory draft pick formula. While West has talent, it seems that teams were waiting out the deadline before engaging with him.

In 2016, West led the Ravens in rushing attempts (193), yards on the ground (774) and rushing touchdowns (five). Last year, however, he averaged just 3.5 yards per carry off of 39 attempts and his season ended in October due to a calf injury.

The Colts will use Marlon Mack as their primary running back this year with Robert Turbin and fourth-round rookie Nyheim Hines mixed in. Christine Michael, fifth-round pick Jordan Wilkins, and Josh Ferguson jockeying for position behind them.

Colts Won't Sign Vaccaro, Boston Immediately

  • The Colts met with safeties Tre Boston and Kenny Vaccaro on Monday, but Stephen Holder of the Indy Star (on Twitter) hears that nothing is imminent with either player at this time. Boston and Vaccaro both offer significant starting experience, but the free agent market has been painfully slow to develop for them and other safeties this year.

Colts Release CB Kenneth Acker

Kenneth Acker‘s time with the Colts was short-lived. One month after signing with Indianapolis, Acker has been released, according to a press release. To fill his spot on the roster, the Colts signed undrafted rookie safety Michael Cirino

The Colts signed Acker for depth following the departure of Rashaan Melvin. Acker was never in line for a starting job, but he seemed like he could have offered support from the bench along with the returning Pierre Desir. Apparently, Acker didn’t cut it on the practice field.

Acker has played in 40 career games, including 15 starts, over the course of his four-year NFL career with the Chiefs (2016-17) and 49ers (2014-15). The Seahawks also showed some interest in him before he landed in Indy.

Cirino totaled 55 tackles, two tackles for loss, 13 passes defensed, three interceptions, and three forced fumbles in two years at Division II Adams State.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/14/18

Today’s minor moves (so far):

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

  • Signed: DE Da’Sean Downey

Buffalo Bills

  • Signed: FB Zach Olstad
  • Waived/Injured: RB Aaron Green

Carolina Panthers

  • Signed: WR Bug Howard, C Kyle Friend, T/G Quinterrius Eatmon, DE Karter Schult
  • Waived/Injured: CB Zack Sanchez

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

  • Signed: WR Deontez Alexander, TE Marcus Lucas, CB Josh Okonye
  • Waived: WR Kyle Lewis
  • Waived/Injured: TE Brandon Barnes

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Rams

  • Signed: QB Luis Perez 

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

Oakland Raiders

Philadelphia Eagles

  • Signed: WR/KR Tim Wilson

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

  • Signed: TE Clayton Wilson

Washington Redskins

Colts Meet With Tre Boston, Kenny Vaccaro

The Colts are taking a look at two of the best safeties left on the free agent market. Tre Boston and Kenny Vaccaro will meet with the Colts on Monday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). 

The market has been slow to develop for veteran safeties this year as many clubs opted to go for younger and cheaper alternatives in the draft. The Colts already have one high-potential safety in Malik Hooker and either Boston or Vaccaro would provide them with another quality starter in the secondary. Last week, PFR’s Dallas Robinson ranked both players in the top 10 of the remaining free agents on defense.

The Cardinals, Raiders, Browns, and Giants expressed interest in Boston back in March, but we haven’t heard much on that front in recent weeks. Needless to say, it has been a frustrating offseason for the former Charger.

It’s kind of unbelievable to me,” he said. “We’re talking about a position that’s needed more and more on the field in today’s game. “There are about five or six valuable starting safeties in free agency right now. But I guess it’s just trying to get us to take peanuts like the rest of them have. That’s just the business of the game.”

Vaccaro, meanwhile, met with the Dolphins in April, but left Miami without a deal. The lack of interest has been surprising given Vaccaro’s starting experience and ability to play slot cornerback, but he is coming off of a down season in New Orleans.

Neither player is without warts, but the Colts may have an opportunity to add one or both of them at an extremely discounted rate.

Andrew Luck Doing Everything But Throwing During Colts Offseason Program

Colts quarterback Andrew Luck has yet to resume throwing a football but has participated in the rest of the drills through the team’s offseason workouts, according to Mike Chappell of CBS4 (on Twitter). Luck’s biggest responsibilities without the throwing have been learning the intricacies of the team’s new-look offense under coach Frank Reich.

The Colts have done their part of late in providing protection for Luck, drafting guard Quenton Nelson with the No. 6 overall pick of last year’s draft and guard Braden Smith in the second round. They also signed free agent tackle Austin Howard this week, who is expected to slot in at right tackle.

Luck did not appear in a game last season after having shoulder surgery in the 2017 offseason. Jacoby Brissett started 15 game at quarterback for the Colts last season and the team also has quarterbacks Brad Kaaya and Phillip Walker.