INDIANAPOLIS — After about a week of mostly laying low, the free agency moves are now coming in a flurry for the Indianapolis Colts.
The team has announced it has signed veteran center/guard Matt Slauson. Earlier in the day, the team signed free agent wide receiver Ryan Grant, only a few hours ahead of signing free agent tight end Eric Ebron late Monday evening.
Slauson, 32, was a sixth-round draft pick by the New York Jets back in 2009, and he has played in parts of nine seasons with the New York Jets, Chicago Bears and, most recently, the last two seasons with the Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers.
Slauson provides the Colts with a veteran presence with considerable experience at both guard and center. It was at center in 2016 that he was named the Chargers' co-lineman of the year, as he started all 16 games and helped pave the way for Pro Bowlers Philip Rivers and Melvin Gordon.
Slauson moved over to left guard last season for the Chargers, and started in all seven games in which he played before suffering a season-ending biceps injury.
The Colts' new coaching staff also has plenty of experience with Slauson; offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni spent the last two seasons as the Chargers' wide receivers coach.
Indianapolis hopes Slauson can provide some immediate relief up front after the Colts allowed an NFL-high 56 sacks last season.
While Anthony Castonzo (left tackle) and Ryan Kelly (center) appear to be ready to return as starters in 2018, the three remaining spots could be wide open for the taking. The team will likely have exclusive rights free agent Jeremy Vujnovich, who started all 16 games at left guard last season, back this season, while Joe Haeg, Denzelle Good and Le'Raven Clark — each of whom have gotten opportunities at guard and tackle the past couple seasons — are set to return, as well.
Guards Mark Glowinski, Isaiah Williams, tackle Tyreek Burwell and centers Deyshawn Bond and Anthony Fabiano are also on the Colts' offseason roster, and will be given the chance to compete for spots up front.
