Colts Place CB Patrick Robinson On IR
The Colts will make their push for the playoffs without one of their better defenders, as the club announced today that they’ve placed cornerback Patrick Robinson on injured reserve. Robinson had missed the past two games while dealing with a groin injury.
[RELATED: Colts Place Jack Mewhort On IR]
Signed to a three-year, $14MM contract after a breakout 2015 campaign with San Diego, Robinson could never get fully healthy with Indianapolis, as nagging injuries — including a concussion, a knee ailment, and now the groin issue — limited him to six games on the year. When he was on the field, the 29-year-old Robinson wasn’t overly effective, as Pro Football Focus graded him as the No. 93 cornerback among 120 qualifiers. However, it’s fair to assume Robinson’s play was affected by his injury woes, and given that he’s signed at an affordable rate ($3MM base salary, $1MM guaranteed) in 2017, he will likely be brought back.
For the Colts, the loss of Robinson signifies yet another hit at an already-weak position on the roster, as Indy has cycled through defensive backs for most of the year. Vontae Davis is still available (but not playing at his usual level), but otherwise, the Colts will rely on Rashaan Melvin, Darius Butler, Darryl Morris, Chris Milton, and the recently-signed Charles James for the remainder of the year.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/13/16
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Reshard Cliett
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: OL Blaine Clausell
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: WR Mario Alford
Indianpolis Colts
- Signed: T Pierce Burton
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: TE Kyle Carter, T Marquis Lucas
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DT Justin Zimmer
New York Giants
- Signed: OL Adam Gettis
- Cut: OL Laurence Gibson, RB George Winn
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: TE Anthony Denham
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LB Shaquille Riddick
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: OT Mitchell Van Dyk
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: RB David Fluellen
Washington Redskins
- Signed: DL A.J. Francis, DB Shakiel Randolph
- Cut: DL Trevon Coley, DB Lee Hightower
Former NFL TE Konrad Reuland Dead At 29
Former NFL tight end Konrad Reuland passed away after suffering a brain aneurysm, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh announced after last night’s game. Reuland’s alma mater of Stanford has also confirmed the tragic news. 
“Just want to offer condolences to his family. We love Konrad Reuland,” Harbaugh said before reading a psalm (link via CSN Mid-Atlantic). “Every single guy in that locker room loves him who knows him.”
Reuland entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2011 and signed with the 49ers. In 2012, he found his way to the Jets and appeared in every regular season game. In the following year, he had his season with the Jets cut short by a knee injury. After a brief stay with the Colts, he hooked on with the Ravens in November 2014 and cycled between their main roster and practice squad for a long time. In 2015, he saw time in four games for Baltimore. He was in camp with the Colts again this summer, but he did not make the final cut.
We here at PFR would like to extend our condolences to Reuland’s family, friends, and teammates.
Colts Sign Former Texans CB Charles James
- Former Hard Knocks favorite Charles James has made his way to the Colts‘ 53-man roster after the team signed him, per Mike Chappell of IndySportsCentral.com (on Twitter), in the wake of placing three players — including starters Jack Mewhort and Clayton Geathers — on IR. James played in 12 games for the Texans this season, making 12 tackles. The team waived James last week after re-signing him as an exclusive-rights free agent in March.
Colts Move Jack Mewhort, Clayton Geathers To IR
The Colts will finish their season without the services of two starters after placing left guard Jack Mewhort and free safety Clayton Geathers on IR.
A left knee injury will sideline Mewhort, per the Associated Press, with Geathers being unable to overcome a neck malady that sidelined him for the past two games.
To fill the duo’s roster spots, Indianapolis promoted wide receiver Devin Street from the practice squad and signed safety Duke Williams.
Thought to potentially be out for the entire season with a torn ACL sustained during preseason play, Mewhort returned in time for Week 1 and started for the Colts in each of the 10 games for which he was active. Mewhort has rated as a top-25 guard in each of the past two seasons in the opinion of Pro Football Focus, coming in as the No. 22 player at the interior-line spot after finishing 2015 as the site’s ninth-highest-graded guard.
The former second-round pick has started each of the 40 games he’s played and will be entering a contract year in 2017.
A fourth-rounder last year, Geathers rated as a top-10 run-defending safety, per PFF, but played in just nine games in this his second season. Geathers finished with 58 tackles, five pass deflections and a forced fumble during his first season as a full-time starter, a status he will likely return to in 2017 assuming he overcomes this neck setback.
The 6-7 Colts now have eight players on IR, also placing backup linebacker Curt Maggitt on the season-ending list.
The Bills cut Williams earlier this year after the former fourth-round pick in 2013 made 10 starts for Buffalo from 2014-16.
2017 NFL Draft Order Through Most Of Week 14
The final month of the regular season will dictate the playoff futures for teams like the Cowboys, Patriots, Chiefs, and Raiders. For other teams, the postseason is a statistical impossibility. Already, the Jets, Jaguars, Browns, Rams, Bears, and 49ers have been mathematically eliminated. The Chargers, Saints, Panthers, Eagles, Bengals, and Cardinals are not technically out of it, but their chances are remote.
Here’s where those teams and the others not currently ticketed for the playoffs stand in the draft order (Note – Ties are broken by strength of schedule):
- Browns 0-13
- 49ers 1-12
- Jaguars 2-11
- Bears 3-10
- Rams 4-9 (pick belongs to Titans)
- Jets 4-9
- Panthers 5-8
- Chargers 5-8
- Saints 5-8
- Eagles (pick belongs to Browns) 5-8
- Cardinals 5-7-1
- Bengals 5-7-1
- Bills 6-7
- Colts 6-7
- Titans 7-6
- Vikings (pick belongs to Eagles) 7-6
- Packers 7-6
- Redskins 7-5-1
- Ravens 7-5 (Note – The Ravens play their Week 14 game tonight against the Patriots.)
- Dolphins 8-5
Strength of schedule via SB Nation.
Colts Won't Sign Nate Irving
Although the Colts are now thin at linebacker following D’Qwell Jackson‘s four-game suspension, Indianapolis is unlikely to forge a reunion with free agent Nate Irving, according to Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star (Twitter link). Irving, whom Indy released in September, worked out for the Colts in last month, but is still looking for a contract. Instead, Indianapolis is likely to hand reserve ‘backer Edwin Jackson more playing time.
Colts Promote LB Luke Rhodes
- The Colts announced that they have elevated rookie inside linebacker Luke Rhodes to the active roster. The William & Mary product had been on the team’s practice squad since early October.
[SOURCE LINK]
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/7/2016
Today’s practice squad moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: CB Charles Gaines
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: S Justin Currie
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: S Stefan McClure
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: TE E.J. Bibbs
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: OT Rob Crisp
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: CB Brandon Dixon
San Diego Chargers
- Signed: CB Randall Evans
Colts Waived Mike McFarland
- The Colts have waived tight end Mike McFarland off injured reserve, according to Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter link). McFarland, a 2015 undrafted free agent, signed with Indianapolis this March but was placed on IR just two months later.