INDIANAPOLIS COLTS MAKE ROSTER MOVES
The Indianapolis Colts today waived 27 players to reach the league-mandated 53-man roster for the start of the regular season. Those waived include: DB-Al Afalava, P-Travis Baltz, WR-Chris Brooks, DE-John Chick, LB-Chris Colasanti, OG-Kyle DeVan, TE-Tyson DeVree, DT-John Gill, WR-David Gilreath, DB-Michael Hamlin, DT-Tommie Harris, RB-Javarris James, DB-Brandon King, OL-Jake Kirkpatrick, DT-Ricardo Mathews, TE-Michael Matthews, OG-Jacques McClendon, WR-Larrone Moore, LB-Kerry Neal, DT-Ollie Ogbu, QB-Dan Orlovsky, WR-Taj Smith (Waived/Injured), OT-Mike Tepper, OT-Michael Toudouze, LB-Nate Triplett, LB-Vuna Tuihalamaka, and WR-Marshall Williams. The Colts also activated wide receiver Blair White from the physically unable to perform list.
"These days always carry mixed emotions and we had a lot of tough decisions to make because of the competition we witnessed during the preseason," said Head Coach Jim Caldwell. "With the moves we made, I feel this team is in a position to be highly successful and competitive over the course of the regular season."
"There was a tremendous amount of talent competing for spots on this team and that made our decisions challenging," said Vice President and General Manager Chris Polian. "We respect and appreciate the effort that these players put forth throughout the course of training camp and the preseason. At the same time, we feel we've established a solid group of players who will compete at a high level for the Indianapolis Colts this season."
Prior to the regular season opener against the Houston Texans (September 11), the Colts have until Monday, September 5 to establish an eight-player practice squad.
Below is a preseason breakdown of those players who were released:
DB-Al Afalava (5-11, 212 pounds, Oregon State): In two preseason contests, totaled eight tackles (six solo) and one tackle for loss.
P-Travis Baltz (6-3, 210 pounds, Maryland): Saw action in all four preseason games and recorded 11 punts for a 46.1 average and a long kick of 57 yards.
WR-Chris Brooks (6-2, 210 pounds, Nebraska): Caught four passes for 53 yards (13.3 avg.) and one touchdown this preseason.
DE-John Chick (6-4, 250 pounds, Utah State): In four preseason games, registered 10 tackles (five solo), 1.5 sacks, one tackle for loss and one quarterback hurry.
LB-Chris Colasanti (6-2, 241 pounds, Penn State): Posted 11 tackles (seven solo) in four preseason contests.
OG-Kyle DeVan (6-2, 306 pounds, Oregon State): Saw action on the offensive line in all four preseason games.
TE-Tyson DeVree (6-6, 245 pounds, Colorado): This preseason, contributed with three receptions for 55 yards (18.3 avg.) and a long catch of 33 yards.
DT-John Gill (6-3, 302 pounds, Northwestern): Tallied seven tackles (three solo) and one quarterback hurry over the course of the preseason.
WR-David Gilreath (5-11, 169 pounds, Wisconsin): Caught four passes for 33 yards, a long reception of 13 yards and one touchdown this preseason. Also added nine punt returns for 64 yards, which includes a long return of 30 yards and one kickoff return for 20 yards.
DB-Michael Hamlin (6-2, 213 pounds, Clemson): Competed in the preseason finale against Cincinnati and notched one tackle.
DT-Tommie Harris (6-3, 295 pounds, Oklahoma): In three preseason games, totaled two tackles (one solo), one sack, one tackle for loss, two quarterback hurries and one pass defensed. In his seven-year NFL career, all with the Bears, recorded 286 tackles (155 solo), 28.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries and one interception.
RB-Javarris James (6-0, 215 pounds, Miami): This preseason, totaled seven carries for 26 yards and added two catches for 26 yards, including a long reception of 20 yards.
DB-Brandon King (5-10, 194 pounds, Purdue): In four preseason games, finished with two tackles.
OL-Jake Kirkpatrick (6-3, 305 pounds, TCU): Competed in three of four preseason contests on the offensive line.
TE-Michael Matthews (6-4, 270 pounds, Georgia Tech): Played in all four preseason contests, but did not record a catch.
DT-Ricardo Mathews (6-3, 294 pounds, Cincinnati): Posted five tackles (two solo) this preseason.
OG-Jacques McClendon (6-3, 324 pounds, Tennessee): Saw action in all four preseason games on the offensive line.
WR-Larrone Moore (6-1, 185 pounds, Delaware State): Competed in three of four preseason games, but did not record a catch.
LB-Kerry Neal (6-2, 245 pounds, Notre Dame): Contributed with eight solo tackles over the course of the preseason.
DT-Ollie Ogbu (6-1, 283 pounds, Penn State): This preseason, finished with seven tackles (three solo), half of a sack and a forced fumble.
QB-Dan Orlovsky (6-5, 230 pounds, Connecticut): In four preseason games under center, completed 25-of-54 passes for 386 yards, a long completion of 54 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions for a 65.8 quarterback rating.
WR-Taj Smith (6-0, 192 pounds, Syracuse): (Waived/Injured): Led the Colts in receiving this preseason with 12 catches for 210 yards (17.5 avg.), a long catch of 54 yards and two touchdowns.
OT-Mike Tepper (6-6, 323 pounds, California): Played in all four preseason contests on the offensive line.
OT-Michael Toudouze (6-6, 303 pounds, TCU): Competed on the offensive line in all four preseason games.
LB-Nate Triplett (6-3, 247 pounds, Minnesota): This preseason, compiled five tackles (three solo).
LB-Vuna Tuihalamaka (6-0, 230 pounds, Arizona): Finished the preseason with seven stops (six solo) and one tackle for loss.
WR-Marshall Williams (6-1, 188 pounds, Wake Forest): Totaled two receptions for 14 yards in three preseason games.
