INDIANAPOLIS –During the Tampa Bay game this season it was the offensive and defensive lines that received the brunt of the injuries.
Sunday against Atlanta, the tight end position suffered injuries to Dallas Clark and Brody Eldridge.
With Clark and Eldridge on the mend for at least this week, the Colts signed Mike McNeill from the practice squad and Anthony Hill off the Philadelphia Eagles' practice squad. Indianapolis also signed cornerback Morgan Trent to fill the 53-man roster.
The signing of Hill means he will be on the active roster for the next three weeks and at 6-6, 278 pounds, he can fill the need of a blocking tight end.
McNeill spent all of training camp with the Colts and made his NFL debut against Houston in week one of the season. He since has spent the past eight weeks on the team's practice squad.
"Obviously the circumstances are a little unfortunate that Brody and Dallas got hurt, but (I'm) definitely excited," McNeill said. "I feel pretty good. Obviously there are a couple of things that change week-to-week that I will have to learn but for the most part, I feel pretty comfortable."
Playing primarily on special teams in the opener at Houston, McNeill can be a target in the passing game. He set a school record for tight ends at Nebraska with 82 career catches.
"Obviously, I won't be on the 'look' team for special teams. I'll be actually doing our special teams, so that will be the only real difference," McNeill said. "Otherwise, 'Next Man Up,' as they say. You always have to be ready, and I practice to be ready and I am."
"When you are young and you have veterans in front of you on the roster, you make the team doing special teams. Hopefully, I will do well this weekend."
The Colts signed McNeill as an undrafted free agent in late July. To say that he is happy to be back on the active roster would be an understatement.
"I felt like a little kid on Christmas," McNeill said with a laugh. "It was really exciting and (I'm) just really happy to get the opportunity. You never know what's going to happen and obviously with the situation we're in, I could be thrown out there right away."
For Trent the move to Indianapolis this past week was relatively short. He has spent the past three seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals.
A 2009 sixth-round draft pick out of Michigan, Trent is not quite sure what his role will be in Indianapolis but he is anxious to get out on the field.
"I got released last Wednesday and then came up last Friday for a workout," Trent said. "I always expect to play, and I need to learn the defense and do whatever they ask me to do."
In addition to the moves on the active roster, Indianapolis added quarterback Dan LeFevour. The addition of LeFevour is important since the club has only two healthy quarterbacks on the active roster, Curtis Painter and Dan Orlovsky. LeFevour will practice with the squad and defray some of the throwing for Painter and Orlovsky. Peyton Manning also is on the active roster, but he is not practicing.
One of the most prolific players in college football history, LeFevour set an FBS record with 150 touchdowns in his four-year career at Central Michigan University.
LeFevour's workout with the Colts panned out and now he has the chance to sit in meeting rooms alongside three quarterbacks that have a combined 24 years of NFL experience.
"It's not easy because sometimes you have workouts and that lead to nothing. You come up there and then have a plane ride home the next day," LeFevour said. "It's a relief to know that I'm staying here and can help them out the best way I can.* *
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"It's a great opportunity to learn from some guys like that. Obviously, I've got to get caught up to speed the best way that I can and my focus is really on that right now."
After spending time with Chicago and Cincinnati, LeFevour is grateful for another opportunity especially with a team close to home.
"(I've) just been working out, sitting around trying to stay sharp, waiting for an opportunity like this, so I'm really excited and really appreciative of what the Colts have given me," LeFevour said.
