INDIANAPOLIS - The Indianapolis Colts today placed linebacker Gary Brackett and strong safety Melvin Bullitt on injured reserve, signed linebacker A.J. Edds off the New England practice squad and signed quarterback Dan Orlovsky to the active roster. The team also waived quarterback Mike Hartline and linebacker Caleb Campbell from the practice squad and added free agents, wide receiver Jeremy Ross and offensive lineman Matt Murphy to the practice squad.
Brackett has been a normal starter for the Colts defense dating back to 2005. In 116 career games (86 starts), he has totaled 754 tackles (448 solo), 4.0 sacks, 22 passes defensed, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, 12 interceptions and three touchdowns.
Brackett had a standout season in 2007 as the Glassboro, N.J. native set a career-high with 149 stops, a career-high four interceptions and was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week on two occasions. With his 12 career interceptions, he currently ranks fifth in club history among all linebackers.
As one of the team captains this season, Brackett opened the 2011 campaign with a six-tackle (five solo) and one interception performance against the Houston Texans before leaving the game due to a shoulder injury. He underwent shoulder surgery, which has placed him on injured reserve.
Bullitt has competed in 50 career games (26 starts) and has totaled 189 tackles (122 solo), seven interceptions, seven passes defensed and two forced fumbles. He set a career-high with four interceptions during the 2008 campaign and posted another career-best with 82 tackles (55 solo) the following season.
In two games this season, Bullitt totaled 11 tackles (six solo), one interception and one pass defensed. He suffered a shoulder injury in the Colts' Week 2 contest against Cleveland and will undergo shoulder surgery.
Edds, 6-4, 246 pounds, competed in the first two games of the 2011 season and finished with one tackle before the Patriots signed him to the team's practice squad on September 24. He was originally a fourth round selection in the 2010 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins.
Orlovsky, 6-5, 230 pounds, has competed in 13 career NFL games (seven starts) with the Detroit Lions and Houston Texans. All seven of his starts came in 2008 with the Lions and in 10 games that season, he completed 143-of-255 passes for 1,616 yards, eight touchdowns and eight interceptions. Orlovsky was with the Colts during the 2011 preseason and in four games completed 25-of-54 passes for 386 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions.
Ross, 5-11, 213 pounds, was originally signed by the New England Patriots as a rookie free agent on July 27, 2011. At Cal, he played in 43 games with 14 starts and recorded 57 catches for 764 yards and three touchdowns. Ross also totaled 2,287 all-purpose yards with an average of 53.2 yards per game.
Murphy, 6-4, 300 pounds, was originally signed by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent on July 26, 2011. As a senior at UNLV, he was voted a 2010 All-Mountain West Honorable Mention selection while serving as a team captain. Murphy was a four-year starter on the Rebels' offensive line.
