Less than six weeks after he signed a new two-year free agent deal with the Colts, center Phil Costa has been placed on the reserve/retired list, according to Brian McIntyre (via Twitter). Colts GM Ryan Grigson said today that “Phil feels it’s in his best interest to retire from the game,” tweets Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star.
Costa, 26, was the Cowboys’ full-time starter at center in 2011, but missed most of 2012 with an ankle injury and transitioned into a backup role in 2013. The Maryland product signed a two-year, $2.7MM contract with Indianapolis in March and looked to be the favorite to take over as the Colts’ starting center in 2014, but the team will have to turn elsewhere.
Khaled Holmes looks to be the next in line at center as far as the Colts’ in-house options go. The club could also choose to address the position in the draft, or with a veteran free agent. Jonathan Goodwin, David Baas, and last year’s Indianapolis starter Samson Satele are among the players still on the market.