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
- Signed: DT Siupeli Anau, WR C.J. Duncan, LB Airius Moore, OL Greg Pyke
- Waived: CB Elijah Battle, LB Mike Needham, OL Austin Olsen, WR Jonah Trinnaman
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
- Signed: WR Matt Fleming, DB John Franklin, DB Tyrin Holloway, OL Jeremi Hall, OL Matt McCants
- Waived: OL Travis Averill, OL Cameron Lee, LB Howard Jones, LB Nyles Morgan
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: DT Chris Okoye, C Brand Lundblade, S Tyrice Beverette
- Waived: LB Oni Omoile, TE Scott Orndoff, CB Robenson Therezie
Cleveland Browns
- Signed DB Tigie Sankoh, QB Brogan Roback
Denver Broncos
- Waived: NT Lowell Lotulelei (Lotulelei is retiring, per Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic, on Twitter)
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Deontez Alexander, TE Marcus Lucas, CB Josh Okonye
- Waived: WR Kyle Lewis
- Waived/Injured: TE Brandon Barnes
Houston Texans
- Placed on Reserve-Retired list: K.J. Malone
- Signed: T Kendell Calhoun, DE Nick Thurman
- Waived: WR Montay Crockett
- Waived/failure to disclose physical condition designation: DE Jalen Wilkerson
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: OT Jared Machorro
- Waived: C Anthony Fabiano
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: TE Zach Conque, LB Manase Hungalu, OL Brandon Smith
- Waived: OL Avery Gennesy
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: QB Luis Perez
New England Patriots
- Signed: P Corey Bojorquez
- Waived/NFI: WR Darren Andrews
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: OT Michael Ola
- Waived: LB Adam Bighill, OL Daronte Bouldin, S Rickey Jefferson, Bradley Sylve
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: S Dallin Leavitt, LS Drew Scott
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: WR/KR Tim Wilson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: G/T R.J. Prince
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: TE Clayton Wilson
Washington Redskins
- Signed: C Casey Dunn, LB Vontae Diggs, WR Darvin Kidsy
- Waived: WR Mikah Holder, C Sean Welsh
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.
Colts Claim Rakeem Nunez-Roches
Rakeem Nunez-Roches spent three seasons with the Chiefs before being waived midway through his fourth offseason, but he had a familiar voice vouching for him.
The Colts claimed the defensive lineman off waivers on Friday. Second-year Colts GM Chris Ballard was with the Chiefs when they drafted Nunez-Roches in 2015.
The 6-foot-2, 307-pound defender started 11 games for the AFC West champions last season and has played both end and tackle in his career. Prior to last season, Nunez-Roches mostly served as an off-the-bench defender for the Chiefs. He’s made 1.5 career sacks and 51 tackles.
This will be Nunez-Roches’ first time working in a 4-3 scheme, and he’ll likely play defensive tackle under Matt Eberflus. The Colts cut Johnathan Hankins this offseason and added three defensive ends in the form of Denico Autry, Chris McCain and second-rounder Tyquan Lewis.
Colts To Sign WR Kasen Williams
Former Seahawks and Browns wide receiver Kasen Williams will sign with the Colts, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. They will waive fellow wideout DeAndre Smelter to make roster room, per Schefter.
The Browns waived Williams shortly after the draft despite signing him to a reserve/futures contract in January. He’ll make his way to the Colts, who’ve been interested in the former UDFA for a bit now.
Indianapolis placed a waiver claim on Williams following a strong showing during the 2017 preseason, but Cleveland held higher waiver priority and won his rights after Seattle waived him. Now, the fourth-year wideout will attempt to make the Colts’ 53-man roster.
The Browns waived Williams last season but retained him for their practice squad. The University of Washington product caught nine passes for 84 yards in 2017. A 2015 49ers fourth-round pick out of Georgia Tech, Smelter has only seen action in two NFL games — both during the 2016 season. Smelter tore an ACL during his final season with the Yellowjackets and missed his rookie year. He finished 2016 on IR and despite not playing last season wound up with the Colts on a futures deal.
Colts Sign First-Round Pick Quenton Nelson
The Colts have officially signed the bulk of their draft class. On Friday, the team announced deals with the following picks: 
- 1-6: Quenton Nelson, G (Notre Dame)
- 2-52: Kemoko Turay, DE (Rutgers)
- 2-64: Tyquan Lewis, DE (Ohio State)
- 4-104: Nyheim Hines, RB (North Carolina State)
- 5-159: Daurice Fountain, WR (Northern Iowa)
- 5-169: Jordan Wilkins, RB (Mississippi)
- 6-185: Deon Cain, WR (Clemson)
- 7-221: Matthew Adams, LB (Houston)
- 7-235: Zaire Franklin, LB (Syracuse)
The Colts wound up with an oversized draft class of eleven players, but they have only two rookies left to sign. Once second round linebacker Darius Leonard and second round guard Braden Smith put pen to paper, they’ll be done.
Nelson was widely regarded as one of the best overall talents in this year’s draft, but the early run on quarterbacks helped guide him to the Colts at No. 6. Frankly, that worked out great for the Colts as they desperately need to protect quarterback Andrew Luck this season. The QB fever allowed Chris Ballard to land this year’s top rated offensive lineman in the draft while adding two 2018 second-round picks and a 2019 second-round choice from the Jets as he moved down from No. 3 to No. 6. It’s too early to grade any team’s draft, but everyone can agree that the Colts did well for themselves in terms of value.
Nelson, a 6’5″, 235-pound lineman, boasts tremendous power and the ability to act as a double team blocker. Many feel that Nelson is one of the best bets to succeed out of this year’s top 10.
“He’s so unique because he’s big, but he’s not fat. He’s one of the best run blockers I’ve ever evaluated, but he’s not a liability in pass protection like Mike Iupati is,” one NFC team personnel executive told NFL.com before the draft. “He’s also an alpha who can bring and ass-kicking mindset into your position room.”
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/9/18
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: S Harlan Miller, DT Peli Anau
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived: G Isaiah Williams
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: G Daronte Bouldin
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: WR Dom Williams
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: OT Mike Person
Colts To Sign OT Austin Howard
The Colts are signing free agent offensive tackle Austin Howard, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. Indianapolis is in desperate need for protection up front and the hope is that Howard will help to secure the pocket for quarterback Andrew Luck. 
It’s a one-year deal with a base value of $3.75MM, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. Howard can also earn another $500K via incentives, which isn’t a bad haul for a free agent signing in May.
Howard’s option for 2018 was surprisingly declined by the Ravens in March. After joining the Ravens on a three-year, $16.5MM free agent contract last year, Howard responded with a solid year and graded as Pro Football Focus’ No. 36 offensive tackle. Overall, Baltimore’s offensive line was extremely effective, grading as top-five unit in Football Outsiders’ adjusted line yards, and adjusted sack rate, but they opted to go in a different direction at tackle and save $3MM in the process.
Howard, who has also spent time with the Eagles, Jets, and Raiders, will now suit up for his fifth NFL team. He’s the third offensive line newcomer of note in Indianpolis, joining first round left guard Quenton Nelson and second round right guard Braden Smith. All three seem likely to start as Howard projects to slot ahead of incumbent right tackle Denzelle Good.
Colts Sign DE Chris McCain
The Colts have signed former Chargers edge rusher Chris McCain and and waived tight end Randall Telfer with a failed physical designation, the club announced today.
McCain, 26, spent the past four years with the Dolphins, Saints, and Chargers after entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2014, but has never started a game. Indeed, the ex-Cal Bear’s playing time on the defensive side of the ball has been extremely limited: McCain’s 25% snap percentage in 2017 was by far the highest of his career, as he’d never before topped 8% playtime on defense. McCain managed five sacks in a backup role, and also saw action on roughly a quarter of Los Angeles’ special teams snaps.
McCain, notably, seemed to thrive in the Chargers’ 4-3 scheme, and he’ll now be moving to an Indianapolis roster that is moving to a 4-3 look for the 2017 campaign. Although he’ll have his work cut out for him as he attempts to get snaps behind Jabaal Sheard, Denico Autry, Tyquan Lewis, and Tarell Basham, McCain could find his way into a regular role if injuries or ineffectiveness strike.
Telfer, meanwhile, had just been claimed off waivers on Monday. He’d originally been part of a trade that would have sent him from the Browns to the Chiefs, but that deal was called off, likely for the same health issue that is now causing him to lose his Colts roster spot.