Indianapolis – The Indianapolis Colts today signed defensive end Genard Avery to the 53-man roster from the practice squad and placed defensive tackle DeForest Buckner on the Injured Reserve list. The team also signed defensive tackle Adam Gotsis, cornerback Gregory Junior and defensive end Titus Leo to the practice squad and released defensive tackle McTelvin Agim and cornerback Ameer Speed from the practice squad.
Avery, 6-0, 250 pounds, was signed to the team's practice squad on August 28, 2024. He was originally signed by Indianapolis as a free agent on June 1, 2023. Avery has played in 62 career games (17 starts) in his time with the Colts (2023-24), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2022), Philadelphia Eagles (2019-21) and Cleveland Browns (2018-19). He has compiled 100 tackles (61 solo), 12.0 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, five passes defensed, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and six special teams stops. Avery has also appeared in one postseason contest and has registered one tackle. His first name is pronounced juh-NARD.
Buckner, 6-7, 295 pounds, has started 126-of-131 career regular season games in his time with the Colts (2020-24) and San Francisco 49ers (2016-20) and has compiled 550 tackles (336 solo), 81.0 tackles for loss, 62.5 sacks, 27 passes defensed, nine forced fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries (one returned for a touchdown) and one special teams stop. He has started four postseason contests and has registered 14 tackles (11 solo), 2.0 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. In 2024, Buckner played in two games (one start) and registered seven tackles (five solo), 1.0 tackle for loss and 1.5 sacks.
Gotsis, 6-4, 290 pounds, has played in 121 career games (54 starts) in his time with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2020-24) and Denver Broncos (2016-19). He has totaled 216 tackles (133 solo), 25.0 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, 22 passes defensed, three forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and two special teams stops. Gotsis has also appeared in two postseason contests and has tallied two solo tackles and one special teams stop. He was originally selected by the Broncos in the second round (63rd overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft out of Georgia Tech. His last name is pronounced GOT-sis.
Junior, 6-0, 190 pounds, appeared in 10 career games in two seasons (2022-23) with the Jacksonville Jaguars and totaled 17 tackles (11 solo), 2.0 tackles for loss and one pass defensed. He was originally selected by the Jaguars in the sixth round (197th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Ouachita Baptist. Junior participated in Jacksonville's 2024 offseason program and training camp.
Leo, 6-3, 245 pounds, spent Week 1 on the team's practice squad. He participated in the Colts' 2024 offseason program and training camp. As a rookie in 2023, Leo spent the entire season on the team's Injured Reserve list. He was originally selected by Indianapolis in the sixth round (211th overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft. Collegiately, Leo saw action in 38 career games (33 starts) at Wagner (2018-22) and totaled 234 tackles (140 solo), 40.0 tackles for loss, 13.0 sacks, four passes defensed, one interception, six forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and three blocked extra points. He was named NEC Defensive Player of the Year two times (2020-21), First Team All-NEC three times (2020-22) and earned FCS First Team All-America recognition (2021).
Agim, 6-3, 300 pounds, was signed to the team's practice squad on August 29, 2024. He has played in 18 career games in his time with the Colts (2022-24), Houston Texans (2023-24) and Denver Broncos (2020-21). Agim has compiled 14 tackles (four solo), 1.0 tackle for loss, 1.5 sacks and two passes defensed. He was originally selected by Denver in the third round (95th overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Arkansas. His last name is pronounced UH-geem.
Speed, 6-3, 215 pounds, was signed to the team's practice squad on August 28, 2024. He was originally claimed by Indianapolis off waivers from the New England Patriots on October 20, 2023. As a rookie last season, Speed played in eight games with the Colts and compiled one solo tackle, 1.0 tackle for loss and five special teams stops. With the Patriots, he saw action in five games and tallied two solo tackles and one special teams stop. Speed was originally selected by New England in the sixth round (214th overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Michigan State.
