Colts To Place Robert Turbin On IR
The Colts are shutting down Bobby Turbo and firing up Marlon Mack. Robert Turbin is headed to injured reserve with a dislocated elbow, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). This was the feared, but expected outcome after he suffered the injury on Monday night. 
Turbin has been playing behind Frank Gore and getting a decent number of snaps. That has been a source of frustration for Colts fans and fantasy owners who have been waiting for Mack to get an opportunity to shine. We’ll now find out of Mack can keep his production up with a heavier workload. He has 4.8 yards per carry this year off of 27 attempts, plus two touchdowns.
Turbin’s season ends with 53 yards on the ground and 56 yards through the air. Last year, he enjoyed one of his most productive NFL seasons, running for 164 yards and seven touchdowns.
The veteran has one more year to go on the two-year deal he signed in March, but it’s not a lock that he’ll be back in Indianapolis in 2018.
NFL Workout Updates: 10/18/17
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter:
Atlanta Falcons
- DE Ricky Ali’ifua; TE Anthony Firkser; DT Nigel Williams, FB Malcolm Johnson; LB Kevin Snyder (link)
Detroit Lions
- LSs Andrew East, Nolan Frese, Jeff Overbaugh; DT Toby Johnson; DE Joby Saint Fleur (link)
Green Bay Packers
- CB Josh Thornton; RB Marquez Williams (link)
Houston Texans
- WRs Demarcus Ayers, Montay Crockett, Tevaun Smith; TEs Jason Croom, Ryan Malleck, Cole Wick (link)
Indianapolis Colts
- G Willie Beavers; T Rich Max; TE Jason Vander Laan (link)
Los Angeles Chargers
- S Malik Smith (link)
New Orleans Saints
- RB Chase Reynolds; TE Jason Croom, LB Brandon Watts; WRs Devin Lucien, Francis Owusu, Rodney Smith (link) (link)
New York Jets
- T Storm Norton (link)
Setback For Colts QB Andrew Luck
Andrew Luck has suffered a major setback in his recovery and, for the first time this year, the Colts are leaving the door open to the possibility that he could land on injured reserve. At a surprise press conference on Wednesday, GM Chris Ballard announced that Andrew Luck will not be able to practice this week after experiencing soreness in his shoulder. 
The belief was that Luck could conceivably return in early November, but that seems impossible given the latest news. Instead of practicing, the Colts’ franchise quarterback will receive a cortisone shot and cease all football activities.
With Jacoby Brissett under center, the Colts are off to a 2-4 start. Heading into a date with the Jekyll & Hyde Jaguars and no timetable on Luck’s return, the Colts have reason to fear that this could be a lost season.
Hindsight is 20/20, but one has to wonder why the Colts did not fortify their backup quarterback situation in the offseason. Brissett has done his best to adapt to the new system on the fly, but there has been a significant dropoff on offense.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/17/17
Today’s practice squad updates:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: QB Garrett Grayson, DT Joey Ivie
- Released: K Mike Meyer
- Placed on injured list: QB Trevor Knight
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: L.J. McCray
- Released: DT Marquavius Lewis, G Jordan Mudge
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: CB Zack Sanchez, RB Jalen Simmons, S Dezmen Southward
- Released: LB Zeek Bigger
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR River Cracraft
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: QB Jerod Evans
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: RB Josh Ferguson
- Released: WR Cyril Richardson
Washington Redskins
- Released: QB Joel Stave
Colts RB Robert Turbin Likely Done For Year
The Colts expect running back Robert Turbin to miss the remainder of the season after suffering an arm injury on Monday night, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com.
Turbin, Indianapolis’ backup running back since 2016, has been a key contributor on both offense (31.9% of snaps) and special teams (39.6% of snaps) this season. Serving behind starter Frank Gore, the 27-year-old Turbin has managed 53 yards on the ground and 56 yards through the air. He signed a two-year contract prior to the 2016 campaign, so he’ll be an unrestricted free agent next spring.
The Colts have two young running backs who should now see increased usage with Turbin sidelined. Marlon Mack, a fourth-round rookie who’s shown game-breaking ability already this season, and former Redskin Matt Jones will pick up where Turbin left off. Indy has running back George Winn on its practice squad, and he’s now a candidate for promotion following Turbin’s injury.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/14/17
Here are today’s minor moves.
- Jack Mewhort‘s IR trip prompted the Colts to look outside the organization for help. They signed guard Isaiah Williams off the Chiefs‘ practice squad. Williams failed to make the Redskins’ roster out of camp in each of the past two summers but caught on with the Chiefs earlier this season. He’s yet to play in a regular-season game.
- Chris Conley‘s nationally televised Achilles’ tendon rupture sent the third-year wide receiver to IR, and the Chiefs replaced him on the roster with practice squad wideout Marcus Kemp. The Chiefs signed Kemp as a UDFA out of Hawaii in May and stashed him on their practice squad after the preseason.
- The Raiders will bring their 2016 third-round pick back to the active roster, re-signing linebacker Shilique Calhoun and placing cornerback Antonio Hamilton on IR, Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com tweets. Hamilton underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus. The second-year player played in four games this season for the Raiders, primarily as a special-teamer. Calhoun played in 10 Oakland games last season but landed on the team’s practice squad to start this campaign.
- The 49ers promoted tight end Cole Hikutini to their active roster from the practice squad. A rookie UDFA out of Louisville, Hikutini’s resided in San Francisco’s practice squad since the preseason concluded. Hikutini will take NaVorro Bowman‘s roster spot.
- The Texans cut safety Marcus Cromartie and replaced him with practice squad safety Kurtis Drummond, Mark Berman of Fox 26 tweets. Cromartie played the past three seasons as 49ers depth piece. Although Drummond played in four Houston games this season, the team cut him to make room for waiver claim Ben Heeney last week.
Colts Place Jack Mewhort On IR
The Colts injury bug hits again. Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star reports (via Twitter) that offensive guard Jack Mewhort is headed to the injured reserve. The lineman’s knee swelled up yesterday, and a subsequent MRI revealed that he needed surgery.
Mewhort, 26, has started each of his 45 NFL games since entering the league as a second-round pick in 2014. This isn’t the first time the lineman has experienced knee issues. After suffering an injury during the 2016 preseason, Mewhort missed the first few weeks of the regular season. He went on to play in 10 games for the Colts, but his campaign ultimately ended on the IR.
This is yet another blow to a Colts offensive line that has allowed 18 total sacks this season. The team has previously lost Denzelle Good and Deyshawn Bond, although neither of those players were as essential as Mewhort. While Pro Football Focus wasn’t particularly fond of his performance in 2017 (he only ranks 48th among 72 eligible guards), he was rated much higher in previous seasons. With Mewhort done for the season, one of Le’Raven Clark, Mike Person, or Kyle Kalis could be promoted to the starting lineup.
Fortunately, there is some good news for the Colts. ESPN’s Mike Wells tweets that tight end Jack Doyle has cleared the concussion protocol and will play on Monday night. The 27-year-old missed last week’s game against the 49ers.
Dan Orlovsky To Retire
Former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky has announced his retirement in a piece for Sports Spectrum.
Orlovsky, 34, entered the league as a fifth-round pick out of UConn in 2005. He participated in two separate stints with the Lions — the club that drafted him — and is perhaps best-known for his seven-game run as a starter for Detroit in 2008. After one season with the Texans, Orlovsky started five games for the Colts in 2011 before landing with the Buccaneers from 2012-13 and re-joining the Lions in 2015.
Orlovsky inked a deal with the Rams this summer, but he was released after losing out to Sean Mannion in the Los Angeles backup quarterback battle. The Rams ultimately brought in a third quarterback — former Jaguars draft pick Brandon Allen — off waivers just days after cutting Orlovsky.
PFR extends its best wishes to Orlovsky in retirement.
NFL Workout Updates: 10/10/17
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account unless otherwise noted:
Arizona Cardinals
- DT Mike Purcell; CBs Trevin Wade, B.W. Webb (link)
Buffalo Bills
- DBs Lonnie Ballentine, Antone Exum (link via Adam Caplan)
Detroit Lions
- DT Will Sutton (link via Caplan)
Green Bay Packers
- WR Tevaun Smith; G Cameron Hunt; DL Sean Daniels; DBs Charlie Miller, Ahmad Thomas (link via Rob Demovksy of ESPN.com)
Houston Texans
- QB Connor Shaw; WRs Rivers Cracraft, Paul Turner; T Steven Moore; DBs J.R. Nelson, Marcus Sayles (link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
Indianapolis Colts
Jacksonville Jaguars
- RB Lamar Atkins; FB Glenn Gronkowski; C Taylor Boggs; DBs Anthony Cioffi, K.J. Dillon (link)
Oakland Raiders
- DEs Sterling Bailey, Patrick Gamble, Jaye Howard; DT Toby Johnson (link)
Seattle Seahawks
- T Andrew Lauderdale; LB Josh Forrest (link)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- LBs Johnathan Calvin, Jayrone Elliott; DE Cashaud Lyons (link)
AFC South Notes: Colts, Luck, Texans, Watt
Colts quarterback Andrew Luck has been ruled out for next Monday night’s game against Tennessee, coach Chuck Pagano tells reporters. The Colts are still waiting for Luck to make his 2017 debut but publicly they have been insistent that he will play at some point. Over the weekend we learned that Luck is at least a month away from playing.
Here’s more from the AFC South:
- Texans defensive lineman J.J. Watt is facing a lengthy recovery for his tibial plateau fracture, but the good news is that he did not suffer ligament damage, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com hears (on Twitter). The Houston star will miss the remainder of the 2017 season, meaning that he will have missed 24 games over the past two regular seasons. Before that, Watt earned Pro Bowl trips and first-team All-Pro honors in every campaign from 2012-2015.
- Colts wide receiver Krishawn Hogan confirmed that an ACL tear is the reason behind his being placed on IR (Twitter link via Mike Chappell of CBS4). “‘I kind of knew it when it happened,” Hogan said of the injury. The UDFA out of Marian University was elevated from the Colts’ practice squad in late September and appeared in two games. He had practice buzz, so the Colts can be expected to circle back to him in the offseason.
- Colin Kaepernick‘s representatives reached out to the Titans after Marcus Mariota went down with a hamstring issue.