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Grover Stewart

Colts To Re-Sign DT Grover Stewart, DE Tyquan Lewis

March 11th, 2024 at 3:30pm CST by Ben Levine

Two key pieces of the Colts’ defense will remain in place for 2024 and beyond. Defensive tackle Grover Stewart is re-signing on a three-year, $39MM deal, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Meanwhile, defensive end Tyquan Lewis has re-upped on a new deal, as first reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The latter’s pact is two years in length, per Joel Erickson of the Indy Star.

Stewart’s $13MM-per-year accord will bring $25.73MM guaranteed, topping his previous Colts contract in that department. In terms of full guarantees, Stewart will see $17.99MM. Stewart’s 2025 salary ($7.74MM) becomes guaranteed on Day 3 of the 2025 league year, per the Indianapolis Star’s Joel Erickson, though the team guaranteed the DT’s 2025 roster bonus ($4MM) at signing. That provides a fairly good indication he will be with the Colts next year.

Stewart was one of the best defensive tackles set to reach the market in 2024. Especially with Chris Jones and Christian Wilkins landing monster deals of their own, the 30-year-old could have fared well on the open market. Instead, he will remain an integral part of the Colts’ D-line.

A durable inside presence, Stewart incurred a six-game PED suspension last year. The veteran’s absence showed against the run. Colts allowed 107.9 rushing yards per game with Stewart suited up; during his six-game ban, Indianapolis yielded 153 on the ground. The veteran DT also provided some support in the pass rush, totaling four sacks in 2022 and a career-high eight QB hits in his suspension-abbreviated slate.

Stewart will turn 31 later this year, limiting the length on his next contract. There was some belief that the former fourth-round pick could approach the three-year, $30.75MM extension he signed with the organization following his rookie contract. Stewart managed to top that pact in terms of total money, and he earned the same term.

Lewis was a second-round pick by the Colts in 2018, but he’s struggled to provide the upside the organization surely envisioned. The defensive lineman has started only 16 of his 65 regular season games, and he’s missed major chunks of games in four of his six professional seasons.

Fortunately for the player’s free agency fortunes, he had one of the most productive seasons of his career in 2023. Lewis got into all 17 games for Indy, finishing with career highs in tackles (25), tackles for loss (nine), QB hits (13), and sacks (four, tie).

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/9/23

December 9th, 2023 at 5:02pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves and callups heading into the Week 14 slate of Sunday games:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

There was some thought that Ammendola’s stint with the Texans had come to an end after four appearances. However, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 notes that regular starting kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn still isn’t ready to return from his strained quadriceps, requiring the practice squad kicker to step in for at least another week. Ammendola has connected on six of his nine field goal attempts and all 10 of his XP tries this season.

With Trevor Lawrence a game-time decision for Sunday’s game, the Jaguars are adding some QB depth to the active roster. Rourke is a former CFL standout, with the quarterback earning the CFL Most Outstanding Canadian award in 2022. Following that breakout, 25-touchdown campaign, Rourke got a look from a number of NFL teams and ultimately signed a three-year deal with the Jaguars this past offseason. He was waived at the end of the preseason and has spent the majority of the season on Jacksonville’s practice squad. Per ESPN’s Michael DiRocco, the rookie will be the emergency QB3 for Week 14.

Similarly, the Seahawks will call up Mannion and O’Connell as they deal with injuries to starting quarterback Geno Smith and linebacker Jordyn Brooks. Smith is questionable heading into tomorrow’s game with a groin injury.

Stewart is back on the Colts active roster after having served a six-game ban for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. Through six games this season, the veteran has compiled 20 tackles, two stops for a loss, and five QB hits.

Crosby is set to make his 2023 debut and make an appearance for a team other than the Packers for the first time since the 39-year-old was drafted back in 2007.

Schweitzer head right back to injured reserve after being activated last week. The Jets signed a lineman to the active roster from the practice squad and elevated one for tomorrow’s game to add some depth at the position.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/4/23

December 4th, 2023 at 8:57pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

  • Designated to return from IR: LB Malik Hamm

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Green Bay Packers

  • Claimed off waivers (from Panthers): DB David Long

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

  • Promoted: TE Josh Pederson

New York Giants

While the Giants haven’t activated Tyrod Taylor, the veteran QB is expected to be back on the active roster next Monday. In preparation, the team has moved on from Matt Barkley, who has been serving as the backup to Tommy DeVito since Daniel Jones went down with an injury. Barkley hasn’t seen the field for a regular season game since 2020, when he got into five games with the Bills.

Colts DT Grover Stewart Incurs PED Ban

October 17th, 2023 at 3:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

Part of a long-running defensive tackle duo alongside DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart will see his season pause. The NFL handed the veteran Colts nose tackle a six-game PED suspension Tuesday, according to the Indianapolis Star’s Joel Erickson.

A fourth-round pick in 2017, Stewart is the longest-tenured Colts defender. The team gave him an extension during his 2020 contract year, and this ban will prove costly. Stewart, who will turn 30 on Friday, will lose $3.1MM as a result of this suspension. The longtime starter said he unknowingly took a banned substance.

“I am responsible for what I put in my body, and I should have taken the proper steps to educate myself,” Stewart said. “I will learn from this moving forward, and I will take the appropriate measures to ensure this never happens again.”

This will be a big loss for the Colts. Stewart has started 70 career games, and Pro Football Focus slots him 18th among interior defensive linemen through six games. Lauding his run defense, PFF graded Stewart as a top-35 inside D-lineman from 2021-22 as well. Stewart posted career-high numbers in sacks (four) and tackles for loss (nine) last season. Through six games this year, he is on pace to establish a new career-best mark in QB hits, having five already.

The Colts have taken a step back defensively in Gus Bradley‘s second season, ranking outside the top 20 in both points and yards allowed, but the franchise has been able to bank on its Buckner-Stewart duo since forming it via the blockbuster Buckner trade in 2020. Part of Chris Ballard‘s first draft as GM, Stewart signed a three-year, $30.75MM extension in November 2020. That contract expiring after this season represents a tough blow to Stewart, who is attempting to use this season as a platform to a lucrative third contract — via another Colts extension or a free agency payday.

Tuesday’s development also brings new territory for the Colts, who have seen Stewart suit up for every game over the past four seasons. The Albany State (Ga.) alum has not missed a game since September 2018 and has only missed two over the course of his career. Indianapolis has enjoyed the luxury of its DT staples remaining healthy; Buckner has only missed one game as a Colt.

The team picked up former Jaguars first-round D-tackle Taven Bryan this offseason, but 2022 fifth-round pick Eric Johnson profiles as the more likely replacement, residing as the only other nose tackle on Indy’s roster. Johnson has played 22% of the Colts’ defensive snaps this season. PFF slots Johnson outside the top 110 among DTs.

Colts, DT Grover Stewart Agree On Extension

November 28th, 2020 at 1:22pm CST by Sam Robinson

Months after authorizing a monster extension for defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, the Colts have identified another D-tackle they want to keep long-term.

They agreed to an extension with contract-year interior lineman Grover Stewart on Saturday, Jim Ayello of the Indianapolis Star reports. It’s a three-year, $30.75MM deal.

Stewart has started alongside Buckner this season and has been a Colts first-stringer since last year. He was one of GM Chris Ballard‘s first draft picks, going to Indianapolis in the 2017 fourth round. The Colts now have Stewart and Buckner signed through at least 2023. Upon being acquired from San Francisco, Buckner signed a four-year, $84MM deal in March.

The Colts have used Stewart, 27, at nose tackle this season. While that is not a statistically friendly role, Stewart has made 36 tackles (four for loss) and grades as a top-40 interior defender this season — per Pro Football Focus. He has helped the Colts become a top-five defense. Indianapolis’ defense ranks third against the run and fourth against the pass, taking a major step forward after a down 2019.

Ballard and Co. have made Stewart a key priority; he is the first of the Ballard-era defensive draftees to receive a major extension. Others, like Darius Leonard, will follow. But for now, the Colts have taken care of a player that has helped make Leonard’s dominance possible.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/18/17

May 18th, 2017 at 5:01pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The latest draft signings from around the NFL:

  • The Bills have signed second-round wide receiver Zay Jones, who’s the fourth of their six draft picks to ink his rookie deal. Jones caught an FBS-record 399 passes, including a ridiculous 158 last season, in four years at East Carolina. That production helped lead the Bills to trade up for Jones, who should be the wideout-needy club’s No. 2 WR after Sammy Watkins in 2017. Jones is now dealing with a knee injury, according to ESPN’s Mike Rodak, though it doesn’t seem particularly serious.
  • The Ravens have signed third-round linebacker Tim Williams (per Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun), meaning they now have their entire seven-player draft class under contract. Williams, the 78th overall pick, is coming off back-to-back seasons with at least nine sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss at Alabama. The Ravens’ hope is that both Williams and second-rounder Tyus Bowser will beef up a pass rush that finished just 24th in the league in sacks last season.
  • The Cardinals have announced the signing of third-round receiver Chad Williams, a former Grambling State standout. The 6-foot-1, 204-pound Williams went 98th overall to Arizona, whose non-Larry Fitzgerald receivers didn’t offer much production in 2016. Moreover, the 2017 campaign could be Fitzgerald’s last, while John Brown will be a free agent next offseason. Therefore, it was imperative for the Cardinals to invest a relatively high pick in a wideout.
  • The Browns have inked third-round defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi, per a team announcement. Ogunjobi, who went 65th overall after a strong career at UNC-Charlotte, might start immediately in Cleveland alongside fellow D-tackle Danny Shelton.
  • The Patriots have signed former Arkansas defensive lineman Deatrich Wise, a fourth-rounder who was the 131st overall selection. Wise underwhelmed as a senior with the Razorbacks last season, when he posted 3.5 sacks after totaling eight in 2015, notes Lance Zierlein of NFL.com. However, the 6-5, 274-pounder possesses “rare physical attributes,” Zierlein writes.
  • The Colts have announced the signing of fourth-round defensive tackle Grover Stewart. Formerly with Albany State, Stewart went to Indianapolis with pick No. 144. He has the makings of a developmental project, according to Zierlein.
  • Jets fifth-round tight end Jordan Leggett, the 150th selection, is now under contract. Leggett racked up a combined 86 catches and 15 touchdowns over his final two seasons at Clemson. Given both the Jets’ woeful tight end production last year and their lack of offseason upgrades at the position, Leggett could be in line to make an impact as a rookie.