Steve Ishmael

Minor NFL Transactions: 4/27/20

We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:

Chicago Bears

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

  • Released: QB Manny Wilkins

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Rams

San Francisco 49ers

  • Released: S Jacob Thieneman

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/7/19

Today’s minor moves:

Dallas Cowboys

  • Signed: OL Kiwanis Bushell-Beatty
  • Waived/injured: WR Lance Lenoir

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Colts Sign Nine To Reserve/Futures Contracts, Including CB Jalen Collins

After being eliminated from the playoffs, the Colts have made a handful of moves with an eye toward 2019. They signed nine players to reserve/futures contracts today, the team announced on Twitter. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2019 league year, with players joining the team’s offseason 90-man roster:

The most notable name of the bunch is cornerback Jalen Collins. Collins was a highly regarded 2015 second round pick of the Falcons, but his career flamed out due to a series of off-field issues that led to four suspensions. He was released by the Falcons in late 2017, and signed to the Colts’ practice squad this past November. If he can get everything sorted out, it could prove to be a great pickup for Indianapolis. Walker is the former Temple quarterback who has been on Indy’s practice squad the past couple of seasons.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/13/18

Here are Tuesday’s practice squad decisions:

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

Denver Broncos

Indianapolis Colts

Oakland Raiders

Philadelphia Eagles

  • Signed: TE Will Tye
  • Cut: TE Billy Brown

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Colts Cut RB Robert Turbin

The Colts made four second-round picks in this year’s draft but have not had much time to evaluate one of those selections. That will change Sunday after Friday’s activation of defensive lineman Tyquan Lewis.

Additionally, Indianapolis added another front-seven player in promoting linebacker Skai Moore from its practice squad. To make room on their roster, the Colts cut veteran running back Robert Turbin and wide receiver Steve Ishmael.

Turbin spent parts of three seasons with the Colts, playing in 23 games with the team since 2016. However, Marlon Mack‘s return and the late-round additions of Nyheim Hines and Jordan Wilkins didn’t leave much room for the seventh-year player. His season delayed by a suspension, Turbin played in just two 2018 games and received just four carries.

Set to turn 30 next month, Turbin has played for four teams — the Seahawks, Browns and Cowboys coming before a lengthy Colts stay. His most relevant NFL work came for the 2016 Colts, with whom he rushed for seven of his nine career touchdowns. Turbin, though, hasn’t exceeded three yards per carry since that season. He hasn’t topped 4.0 in a full season since 2015.

The Colts designated Lewis as an IR-return player last week and look set to deploy him for the first time on Sunday. Lewis went on IR because of a foot injury. The Colts view Lewis, who played defensive end with the Buckeyes, as a three technique in the long-term, per SI.com’s Albert Breer (on Twitter).

Colts Place DT Jihad Ward On IR

The Colts placed defensive tackle Jihad Ward on the injured reserve list, according to an announcement from the team. To fill his place on the roster, the Colts elevated wide receiver Steve Ishmael from the practice squad. 

Ward, a 6’5″, 290-pound lineman, saw time in six games for the Colts this year. Unfortunately, a serious ankle injury cut his season short after he tallied a new career high of three sacks.

The former Raiders second-round pick was traded to the Cowboys back in April. However, he failed to make the roster, and he caught on with the Colts practice squad in early September. Days later, he earned a promotion to the varsity squad.

In his limited sample of work this year, Ward gave talent evaluators reason to believe that he can perform at a high level when healthy. Durability remains a concern, but he showed something after losing much of 2017 to a foot ailment.

Sunday NFL Transactions: AFC South

Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four AFC South teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Texans, Colts, Jaguars, and Titans are noted below.

Additionally, as of 12:00pm CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.

Here are Sunday’s AFC South transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:

Houston Texans

Claimed:

Cut:

Placed on injured reserve:

Practice squad:

Indianapolis Colts

Claimed:

Cut:

Placed on injured reserve:

Practice squad:

Jacksonville Jaguars

Practice squad:

Tennessee Titans

Practice squad:

* = practice squad exception

Colts Cut Austin Howard, Reach 53-Man Roster

The Colts are at the 53-man roster max after making a bundle of transactions, including the release of offensive tackle Austin Howard.

[RELATED: Colts Cut John Simon]

The Colts invested $1.3MM guaranteed in Howard, but he was medically cleared until late July and struggled in camp and during the preseason. The Colts dangled him in trade talks this week, but there were no takers for him.

Despite his issues this summer, Howard had a solid 2017 with the Ravens and graded as Pro Football Focus’ No. 36 offensive tackle. If healthy, he could draw interest from other teams.

The Colts also placed defensive end Chris McCain, linebacker Jeremiah George, defensive end Anthony Johnson, and tight end Ross Travis on injured reserve.

Here’s a look at the rest of the Colts’ moves:

Waived:

Last year, Bond ascended to the starting center job when Ryan Kelly broke his foot late in training camp. Unfortunately, a torn quad landed him on IR in October. This year, he’ll be looking for work elsewhere.

Alie-Cox was a former basketball player looking to transition to tight end. Although Antonio Gates and others have successfully made the jump, Alie-Cox has yet to find similar success.

In addition to the aforementioned moves, the Colts also waived the following players with an injury designation. If they clear waivers, then they revert to the Colts’ Injured Reserve list:

Colts Sign 10 UDFAs

The Colts announced the signing of the following ten undrafted free agents:

  • Michael Badgley, K (Miami)
  • Chris Cooper, S (Stony Brook)
  • Lashard Durr, CB (Mississippi State)
  • Steve Ishmael, WR (Syracuse)
  • Robert Jackson, CB (UNLV)
  • Tomasi Laulile, DT (BYU)
  • Skai Moore, LB (South Carolina)
  • George Odum, S (Central Arkansas)
  • William Ossai, LB (San Jose State)
  • Henre’ Toliver, CB (Arkansas)

Moore, who seemed likely to be taken during Day 3 of the draft, is the biggest name in this group. Moore led his team in tackles in all four of his seasons (interrupted by a medical redshirt year to rehab from a herniated disk in 2016), but evaluators worried about his lack of size and speed. The slim 6’2″ linebacker will now try to catch on as a reserve behind starters John Simon, Antonio Morrison, and Najee Goode.

The Colts seem well set at kicker with Adam Vinatieri under contract for another season, but Badgley will try to give him a run for his money. At The U, Badgley connected on 79.4% of his field goal tries, including a career-long 57-yarder in 2015.

To help make room for the UDFAs, the Colts released a number of players on Tuesday morning, including running back Matt Jones.