The Indianapolis Colts today signed quarterback Brad Kaaya to the 53-man roster off of the Detroit Lions practice squad and signed defensive tackle Johnathan Calvin to the practice squad. The team also placed cornerback Rashaan Melvin on the Injured Reserve List.
Kaaya, 6-4, 215 pounds, spent the last nine weeks on the Lions practice squad. He also spent time on the active rosters of Detroit (Week 7) and the Carolina Panthers (Weeks 1-6) this season but did not see game action. Kaaya was originally selected by the Lions in the sixth round (215th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft. He participated in the team's 2017 offseason program and training camp before being waived during final cuts on September 2. Kaaya was claimed by the Panthers off waivers the next day.
Collegiately, Kaaya started all 38 career games he played in at Miami (FL) from 2014-16 and completed 720-of-1,188 passes for 9,968 yards with 69 touchdowns and 24 interceptions. He finished his Hurricane career as the all-time passing leader in school history. As a junior in 2016, Kaaya served as the team's starting quarterback for the third straight season and finished with a career-best 3,532 passing yards and 27 touchdowns compared to just seven interceptions. He became the first player in program history to register over 3,000 passing yards in three consecutive seasons.
Calvin, 6-3, 266 pounds, re-joins the team after spending Weeks 2-3 on Indianapolis' practice squad. He was signed to the Colts practice squad on September 12 and was waived two weeks later. Calvin participated in the Green Bay Packers' 2017 offseason program and training camp before being waived during final cuts on September 2. He originally signed with Green Bay as an undrafted free agent on May 5, 2017.
Collegiately, Calvin played in 26 games (11 starts) at Mississippi State (2015-16) after spending two years (2013-14) at Copiah-Lincoln Community College (Miss.). He finished with 82 tackles (35 solo), 17.0 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery with the Bulldogs.
Melvin, 6-2, 196 pounds, has played in 37 career NFL games (21 starts) in his time with the Colts (2016-17), New England Patriots (2015) and Baltimore Ravens (2014-15) and has totaled 116 tackles (96 solo), 21 passes defensed, three forced fumbles, three interceptions and two special teams stops. He has also started two playoff contests and has registered 18 tackles (15 solo). Melvin started all 10 games he played in this season and registered single-season career highs in passes defensed (13) and interceptions (three) while recording 36 tackles (30 solo). He currently leads the team in passes defensed and is tied for the lead in interceptions.
