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Indianapolis Colts News & Rumors

DL DeMarcus Walker Visiting Colts, Titans

May 10th, 2022 at 10:18pm CST by Ben Levine

DeMarcus Walker is starting to generate some interest around the NFL. According to Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (on Twitter), the veteran defensive lineman visited the Colts today and will meet with the Titans tomorrow.

Walker was a second-round pick by the Broncos back in 2017, but he mostly disappointed during his four years in Denver. To his credit, he improved a bit following rookie and sophomore seasons where he collected only 11 tackles and two sacks in 13 games. Between 2019 and 2020, Walker got into 23 games (five starts), collecting 40 tackles and 8.5 sacks.

That two-year stretch earned him a contract from the Texans last offseason. During his lone season in Houston, the 27-year-old collected a career-high 31 tackles to go along with two sacks, seven QB hits, and one forced fumble in 13 games (two starts). He had a stint on injured reserve in December while recovering from a hamstring injury.

Walker has spent some time at outside linebacker, but he’s done his best work as a 3-4 defensive end. That versatility probably played a role in him getting a pair of auditions this week.

 

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/10/22

May 10th, 2022 at 9:21pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor transactions:

Chicago Bears

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

Eagles To Hire Matt Russell, Interview Colts’ Morocco Brown

May 10th, 2022 at 6:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although longtime Broncos executive Matt Russell was previously headed toward stepping away from football, the Eagles are luring him back. Russell will join Howie Roseman‘s front office staff, Bo Wulf of The Athletic reports (subscription required).

Philadelphia’s Russell addition comes shortly after Tom Donahoe‘s exit, and Wulf notes Russell will serve in the same senior personnel exec-type role Donahoe had. The Eagles have lost a host of high-ranking front office staffers this offseason — from Donahoe to Brandon Brown to Ian Cunningham to Catherine Raiche, with the latter trio each moving into second-in-command roles elsewhere — but will add Russell, who spent several years as a right-hand man in Denver.

[RELATED: Eagles To Hire Charles Walls As Player Personnel Director]

Elway promoted Russell to director of player personnel in 2012. Elway and Russell rebuilt a Broncos team that had drifted off the contention radar for a while, adding a host of free agents, productive late-round picks and UDFAs to supplement their Peyton Manning-led squad. This resulted in the team earning four straight playoff byes during Manning’s tenure, voyaging to two Super Bowls and winning Super Bowl 50.

When Elway vacated his role atop Denver’s front office after the 2020 season, Russell left as well. He spent 2021 out of football. Roseman is still filling out his staff but will turn to Russell, 48, as a key personnel man going forward. This will be Russell’s second stint with the Eagles. He worked in Philly as a scout from 2006-08, when Roseman was rising through the team’s front office to his eventual GM role. Russell became the Broncos’ college scouting director in 2009.

The Eagles also have Colts scouting director Morocco Brown on their radar. They are set to interview Brown this week, according to InsidetheBirds.com’s Geoff Mosher and Adam Caplan (via Twitter). Brown interviewed for the Steelers’ GM job earlier this offseason but has not received a second interview yet. The Eagles will interview Brown for a “high-ranking position” and are considering Steelers scouting director Brandon Hunt and Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy. The team interviewed Hunt over the weekend, per Caplan and Mosher.

Colts To Sign Dennis Kelly

May 10th, 2022 at 8:58am CST by Adam La Rose

Not long after visiting the Colts, Dennis Kelly has decided to join the team. Indianapolis has agreed to terms with the veteran tackle (Twitter link via Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star). 

Kelly, 32, began his career with the Eagles, starting 15 of 30 games played in Philadelphia. His longest NFL stint came with the Titans, though, after they traded for him in 2016. As the team’s swing tackle throughout his first year in Nashville, he played just 145 snaps, but showed enough during that time to sign a three-year extension.

Kelly’s playing time increased the following year, but it wasn’t until 2020 that he became a full-time starter. Stepping into the right tackle spot vacated by Jack Conklin that year, he played more than 1,000 snaps for the first time in his career, committing two penalties and not allowing any sacks. During the subsequent offseason, however, he was released with one more year left on his most recent extension.

That led him to Green Bay, where he started four of 10 games as the Packers dealt with injuries at both tackle spots. After the season ended, the Purdue product visited the Colts, as they continued the re-making of their tackle depth. With Kelly in place, they will have experienced depth at a minimum, if not another option to compete for the starting left tackle spot alongside Matt Pryor and third-round rookie Bernhard Raimann. With those three, along with right tackle Braden Smith, the team hopes to have some much-needed depth and stability at both ends of the offensive line.

AFC Rumors: Jaguars, Williams, Van Roten, Leonard, Browns, Griffin III

May 8th, 2022 at 5:29pm CST by Ely Allen

After the Jaguars fired former head coach Urban Meyer, it became public that Jacksonville had no intentions of paying Meyer the remaining money on his contract, as he was being fired for cause. There was speculation at the time that the parties may follow existing precedents and negotiate a settlement in order to avoid a legal situation.

According to Jarrett Bell of USA Today, an anonymous source with knowledge of the situation informed the columnist that, to date, the two sides have been unable to strike a settlement agreement.

Here are a few other rumors from around the AFC, starting with a rumor out of South Beach:

  • The Dolphins should have plenty of options for their offensive line configuration, but it most likely hinges on what they do with interior offensive lineman Connor Williams. According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, Miami isn’t quite sure what to do with Williams, working him at center and left guard over the past three weeks. The good news, is that it gives them plenty of options. With Terron Armstead solidified at left tackle and Robert Hunt solidly at right guard, Williams could fit at either position. If you put Williams at left guard, the team would likely have Michael Deiter start at center and leave Liam Eichenberg and Austin Jackson to compete for the starting right tackle job. If you start Williams at center, Eichenberg can slide in to the left guard job and Jackson can man the right tackle position.
  • The Jets recently released guard Greg Van Roten. According to Ralph Vacchiano of SNY, head coach Robert Saleh claimed that they released Van Roten because they believe he has the potential to start for other teams in the league. His release is meant to allow him to find those teams that would provide him a starting opportunity. Saleh was quoted saying they’d “love to have him back,” if he fails to find such opportunities.
  • Colts linebacker Darius Leonard had ankle surgery in June last year before the season. The surgery helped him to get healthy for the season, where he played every game but one and was named a first-team All-Pro for the third time in his career. While the ankle is still ailing him, Joel A. Erickson of the Indy Star reported that Leonard says the ankle is better now than it was at this point last year. This is an encouraging sign for Leonard and a scary message for the other teams in the AFC South. Leonard has been named to an All-Pro team every year of his career while being nagged by his ankle ailment. A healthy Leonard is a dangerous weapon for opposing teams to have to game-plan against.
  • With the return of free agent wide receiver Jarvis Landry seeming less and less likely, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com believes the Browns will be able to push a bit harder now for free agent pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney to return. Cabot points out that drafting UAB pass rusher Alex Wright makes the need to sign Clowney a little less urgent, but also mentions that fellow pass rusher Myles Garrett wants Clowney back, which could help his case. Cabot claims that, if the two parties can’t agree to a new deal, Cleveland will consider former Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes instead.
  • We’ve all seen Rich Eisen of NFL Network run the 40-yard dash for charity. Well, this year, former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III, currently an analyst for ESPN, participated and reportedly was clocked at 4.48 seconds. Mike Florio of NBC Sports reports that on Eisen’s show, Griffin made the claim that some teams took notice of his impressive run and reached out to him. This doesn’t necessarily mean that any teams have offered to bring him back to the NFL, but Griffin has publicly stated his desire to return to football in the past, even claiming that his contract with ESPN would allow him to sign with an NFL team if the opportunity presents itself. Griffin last spent time in the league as Lamar Jackson‘s back up on the Ravens. He filled in multiple times leading many to wonder if he still had the ability to lead an NFL offense based on his brief appearances.

Latest On Matt Ryan’s Future With Colts

May 3rd, 2022 at 9:54pm CST by Ben Levine

Matt Ryan isn’t a stopgap solution at QB for the Colts. Owner Jim Irsay told reporters that he could envision a multiyear partnership with the veteran quarterback, and he refused to compare the situation to Philip Rivers‘ one-year stint with the organization.

“Matt is different than Philip, this is definitely different than that,” Irsay said (via ESPN’s Mike Wells). “It’s not drafting Andrew Luck, but it’s different than Philip. We knew Philip was going to be a one-year sort of thing and we view this as very possibly a three-year thing. Who knows. It’s hard to put a number on it.”

While the Colts seem content to ride with the 36-year-old quarterback for the foreseeable future, Irsay also admitted that the front office is continuing to target young options at the position.

“We hope Matt can be here for four years, maybe,” Irsay said. “We certainly have our radar out for a young guy that can be the long-term future.”

Ryan had one of the least-productive seasons of his career in 2021. He went 7-10 in 17 starts, throwing for 3,968 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. The veteran still has two years remaining on the five-year, $150MM extension he signed with the Falcons in 2018, and his cap hit means he’s pretty much locked in for at least the next two seasons. That’s fine with Ryan, who’s excited to join the Colts.

“I’m excited to be a part of a team where there’s other guys to lean on, too,” Ryan said (via NFL.com’s Nick Shook). “You can turn around and hand that thing off. (Jonathan Taylor) can go for big numbers for us. You got good wide receivers, good tight ends, great offensive line, really good defense. To me, that’s one of the things that has me most excited.”

AFC South Teams Add Players Via International Player Pathway Program

May 3rd, 2022 at 6:46pm CST by Ben Levine

This year was the AFC South’s turn to participate in the International Player Pathway program, which allows teams to carry an additional international player on their practice squads. This year’s players include (via the NFL on Twitter):

  • Colts: DB Marcel Dabo, Germany
  • Texans: DL Adedayo Odeleye, Nigeria/UK
  • Titans: TE Thomas Odukoya, Netherlands
  • Jaguars: DB Ayo Oyelola, UK

Per the league’s website, the “program aims to provide elite international athletes the opportunity to compete at the NFL level, improve their skills, and ultimately earn a spot on an NFL roster.”

These players will sit on their respective team’s roster until the end of training camp, at which time the teams will be granted “an international player practice squad exemption.” Assuming these players land on the practice squad, they’ll be ineligible to be activated during the 2022 campaign.

Patricipants in last year’s program included tight end Bernhard Seikovits (Cardinals), offensive lineman Alfredo Gutierrez (49ers), offensive lineman Max Pircher (Rams), and linebacker Aaron Donkor (Seahawks).

Vikings Trade Up To No. 42 For Andrew Booth

April 29th, 2022 at 7:08pm CST by Ely Allen

The Vikings traded for the Colts No. 42 overall pick to select Clemson cornerback Andrew Booth in the 2022 NFL Draft. Booth is the seventh cornerback off the board. 

For awhile, Booth was considered the consensus second-best cornerback in a first round that was expected to see many get selected. Booth didn’t hear his named called with the four other cornerbacks taken yesterday, but he didn’t last long into Day 2.

Booth led the Tigers with three interceptions and added 5 passes broken up in his first season as a full time starter. Booth recently underwent hernia surgery that may hold him out of the Vikings’ early offseason workouts, but Minnesota sees enough upside to the 21-year-old to move up for him anyway. When healthy, Booth boasts an intriguing combination of length, athleticism, and ball skills that should translate well at the next level.

Minnesota gave the Colts their 53rd (2nd round) pick, 77th (3rd round) pick, and 192nd (6th round) pick in exchange for the pick used to select Booth and Indianapolis’ 122nd (4th round) pick.

Colts Meet With DL Darius Philon

April 27th, 2022 at 3:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

Gus Bradley has already imported two members from his 2021 Las Vegas defense, Yannick Ngakoue and Brandon Facyson. The new Colts defensive coordinator has his eye on another ex-Raider.

Darius Philon met with the Colts on Wednesday, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. A Raider last season, Philon played for Bradley during the veteran defensive coordinator’s time with the Chargers as well. The Raiders also met with Philon recently.

These meetings double as medical checkups for Philon, who suffered a torn patellar tendon in Week 18 last season. The 28-year-old interior defensive lineman was out of football during the 2019 and ’20 seasons, but he bounced back under Bradley in Vegas. The four-year Chargers contributor registered two sacks and five tackles for loss during his Raiders campaign.

The Colts could use some depth behind D-tackle starters DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart, and Philon would not be a pricey addition — especially considering the severe knee injury he sustained in January. The Philon visit is also interesting due to the Colts’ recent re-signing of defensive lineman Tyquan Lewis, who suffered a patellar tendon tear in October. Patellar tendon tears represent a difficult injury to surmount, so it would obviously be notable if the Colts rostered two D-linemen traveling this comeback route.

Colts Meet With T Dennis Kelly

April 26th, 2022 at 4:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Colts will enter the draft without two starters from their 2021 offensive line. Mark Glowinski signed with the Giants, and Eric Fisher remains in free agency — with no signs of an Indianapolis return having emerged.

Two days ahead of the event, the Colts looked into a veteran tackle. Former Titans starter Dennis Kelly met with the Colts on Tuesday, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.

Kelly, 32, spent last season with the Packers, starting in four games and playing in 10. Green Bay spent nearly the entire season without David Bakhtiari, while Billy Turner missed time due to injury as well. This marks Kelly’s first known visit or connection to a team this offseason. While it would seem the Colts are checking on the ex-Titan starter and swingman for a backup role, he has 51 starts on his resume. Sixteen of those came for the 2020 Titans, who deployed a 2,000-yard rusher.

Right tackle Braden Smith signed a long-term extension last year, but the Colts’ post-Fisher left tackle is uncertain. Indianapolis did not have to worry about its left tackle spot for most of the 2010s, with Anthony Castonzo in place, but Castonzo’s 2021 retirement has injected instability into this situation. The recently re-signed Matt Pryor is set to receive an opportunity to replace Fisher, but it makes sense for the Colts to look into backup plans.

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