Today’s practice squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
Indianapolis Colts
Minnesota Vikings
Philadelphia Eagles
Saturday’s practice squad moves:
Denver Broncos
Green Bay Packers
Indianapolis Colts
Los Angeles Chargers
Miami Dolphins
New York Jets
Today’s minor moves and standard gameday practice squad callups:
Carolina Panthers
Cincinnati Bengals
Cleveland Browns
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Houston Texans
Indianapolis Colts
Las Vegas Raiders
Los Angeles Chargers
Los Angeles Rams
Miami Dolphins
Minnesota Vikings
New England Patriots
New York Jets
Philadelphia Eagles
Pittsburgh Steelers
San Francisco 49ers
Seattle Seahawks
Autry was hit with a six-game PED suspension in July, leaving the Texans without a key figure along the defensive line. The free agent pickup could have suited up by means of Houston using his one-week roster exemption; instead, he has been activated in time for Week 7. Autry, 34, posted a career-high 11 sacks last season and he will look to make an immediate impact during his Texans debut. Especially with Mario Edwards having been issued a four-game suspension of his own earlier this week, he should have a notable role right away.
OCTOTBER 18: Head coach Shane Steichen confirmed on Friday Richardson will indeed suit up on Sunday. Taylor’s ankle injury will cost him a third straight game, so plenty of rushing responsibilities could rest on the second-year quarterback immediately upon returning to action.
OCTOBER 17: Joe Flacco has handled starting quarterback duties for the Colts over the past two games. That will likely change in Week 7, however. 
[RELATED: Michael Pittman Jr. To Avoid IR, Play Through Back Ailment]
Anthony Richardson is expected to return to action this week, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports (video link). Last year’s No. 4 pick suffered his most recent injury in Week 4, prompting Flacco to take over in his place. The 39-year-old helped lead the Colts to wins in two out of his three appearances, but as Wolfe notes the team’s intention is to return Richardson to the lineup at the first opportunity to do so.
An oblique injury has kept the 22-year-old out of action recently, marking another interruption in his NFL development. Known to be a raw prospect coming out of college, Richardson immediately handled first-team duties during his rookie season. That campaign was cut short by shoulder surgery, and further missed time is the situation team and player obviously wanted to avoid. If he can remain healthy moving forward, though, a Year 2 jump in production could again be possible.
Sitting at 3-3 on the year, the Colts sit mid-pack in a number of offensive categories this year (although they rank last in time of possession). A healthy Richardson could help in several areas, and his mobility will be key to the team’s rushing attack. That will especially remain true if running back Jonathan Taylor is forced to sit out once again in Week 7. Taylor was absent from practice yesterday and again today, casting doubt on the status of his ankle rehab.
Richardson, by contrast, has been a full practice participant over each of the past two days. Barring any setbacks, therefore, he should be in action against the Dolphins on Sunday. It will be interesting to see how effective the Florida product is upon return and whether or not he will be able to avoid any further setbacks on the injury front for the remainder of the campaign.
Thursday’s taxi squad moves:
Baltimore Ravens
Denver Broncos
Indianapolis Colts
New York Jets
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
Baltimore Ravens
Cincinnati Bengals
Dallas Cowboys
Denver Broncos
Green Bay Packers
Indianapolis Colts
Las Vegas Raiders
Pittsburgh Steelers
Seattle Seahawks
Monday’s practice squad transactions:
Atlanta Falcons
Denver Broncos
Green Bay Packers
Houston Texans
Indianapolis Colts
Pittsburgh Steelers
Seattle Seahawks
OCTOBER 13: While Richardson will serve as the emergency No. 3 QB against the Titans in Week 6, Flacco will again operate as the starter. Per Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, Indianapolis simply wanted to give Richardson one more week to ensure that he is completely healthy.
Despite Flacco’s strong play, there is no quarterback controversy here; a source tells FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz that if today’s game were a playoff contest, Richardson would play.
OCTOBER 11: The Colts played last week without their starting quarterback and running back Anthony Richardson and Jonathan Taylor, and the team was in danger of facing the Titans this week without their top wide receiver, as well. Instead, according to ESPN’s Stephen Holder, Indianapolis is on track to have two of those three players available in Week 6. 
The player who is definitely out this week is Taylor. The rusher showed star potential in his first two years on the team but has been limited due to injury ever since, missing at least six games in each of the past two seasons. Taylor was off to a strong start in 2024, averaging a touchdown per game while also averaging the most yards per game (87.3) since his incredible 2021 campaign.
In Taylor’s absence last week, the Colts ran with two running backs, Trey Sermon and Tyler Goodson, to cover the lost load. They only carried the ball 15 times between the two of them, totaling 64 yards and a touchdown, but both players benefitted from backup quarterback Joe Flacco‘s affinity for check downs, combining to catch all nine of their targets for an additional 56 yards. Should Richardson return this week, the focus may shift back to the run game, requiring much more of Sermon and Goodson.
Speaking of Richardson, Holder reports that the second-year passer is “preparing to return to the lineup.” The 22-year-old participated in the Colts’ last three practices this week, taking a majority of the first-team reps after watching Flacco take all of the first-team reps last week. Flacco had taken over for the injured starter partway through the Steelers matchup in Week 4, leading Indianapolis to a win over his former division-rival. In his spot start last week, Flacco went blow-for-blow against Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars in a shootout that saw him complete 75 percent of his passes for 359 yards and three touchdowns.
It may be a bit surprising to see Indianapolis go back to Richardson, who sports a 50.6 completion percentage on the season and has thrown only three touchdowns while leading the league with six interceptions. Based on the draft capital invested in Richardson and the fact that he was the quarterback working with the first-team offense all summer, it makes sense for the team to stick with him a bit longer as he gets healthy. If he continues to struggle running an NFL offense, though, the wily veteran, Flacco, sits patiently capable on the bench.
Lastly, Holder provided an update on top wideout Michael Pittman Jr. As he’s dealt with “a nagging back injury” to start the season, per Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report, Pittman was in danger of missing extended time for the time since his rookie year. All signs were pointing towards a stint on injured reserve for the veteran receiver, but it appears that he will instead tough it out and try to play through the injury.
The Colts’ receiving game has been dominated so far this season by Pittman, Josh Downs, and Alec Pierce. In theory the team has some untested depth at the position with rookie second-round pick Adonai Mitchell and veteran Ashton Dulin, but with Pittman playing through his injury, Indianapolis can continue to rely on their top three.
This offseason brought a change in how teams could construct their 53-man rosters while retaining flexibility with injured players. Clubs were permitted to attach return designations to two players (in total) placed on IR or an NFI list before setting their initial rosters.
In prior years, anyone placed on IR before a team set its initial 53-man roster could not be activated in-season. All August 27 IR- or NFI-return designations, however, already count against teams’ regular-season limit of eight. This introduces more strategy for teams, who will be tasked with determining which players injured in-season will factor into activation puzzles as the year progresses.
All players designated for return on August 27 are eligible to be activated beginning in Week 5, though any player placed on IR after a team set its initial 53 has not been designated for return and therefore does not yet count toward a club’s eight-activation limit. Players who receive return designations beginning in Week 5 will be added to this list.
Here is how teams’ activation puzzles look going into Week 9:
Designated for return:
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
Activations remaining: 6
Designated for return from IR (August 27):
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
Activations remaining: 6
Activated:
Activations remaining: 5
Designated for return from IR (August 27):
Eligible for activation:
Activations remaining: 6
Designated for return from reserve/non-football injury list:
Designated for return from IR:
Activated:
Activations remaining: 5
Designated for return from IR (August 27):
Designated for return:
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
Activations remaining: 5
Activated:
Activations remaining: 5
Reverted to season-ending IR:
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
Activations remaining: 2
Designated for return:
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
Activations remaining: 7
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
Activations remaining: 4
Designated for return from IR (August 27):
Eligible for activation:
Activations remaining: 7
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
Activations remaining: 7
Designated for return from IR (August 27):
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
Activations remaining: 5
Designated for return from IR (August 27):
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
Activations remaining: 5
Designated for return from IR (August 27):
Activated:
Activations remaining: 4
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
Activations remaining: 7
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
Activations remaining: 7
Designated for return:
Activated:
Activations remaining: 7
Designated for return from IR (August 27):
Designated for return:
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
Activations remaining: 4
Designated for return from IR (August 27):
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
Activations remaining: 5
Designated for return from IR (August 27):
Eligible for activation:
Activations remaining: 6
Designated for return from reserve/non-football illness list (August 27):
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
Activations remaining: 6
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
Activations remaining: 7
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
Activations remaining: 7
Designated for return from IR (August 27):
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
Activations remaining: 6
Designated for return from IR (August 27):
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
Activations remaining: 6
Designated for return from IR (August 27):
Designated for return:
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
Activations remaining: 6
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
Activations remaining: 6
Designated for return:
Activated:
Activations remaining: 7
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
Activations remaining: 6
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
Activations remaining: 7
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
Activations remaining: 6
Today’s minor transactions, including practice squad callups for Week 6:
Arizona Cardinals
Atlanta Falcons
Baltimore Ravens
Carolina Panthers
Chicago Bears
Cincinnati Bengals
Dallas Cowboys
Denver Broncos
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Indianapolis Colts
Jacksonville Jaguars
Las Vegas Raiders
Los Angeles Chargers
New York Giants
Philadelphia Eagles
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tennessee Titans
Washington Commanders