Colts Sign Bradley Sowell From Buccaneers Practice Squad

After what can only be described as a puke-inducing performance by the Indianapolis Colts offensive line against the Chicago Bears, general manager Ryan Grigson is still tweaking the roster. Yesterday, he waived offensive linemen Mike Person and A.Q. Shipley before signing utility lineman Trai Essex.

Today, Grigson used his open roster spot to pluck tackle Bradley Sowell off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice squad, per ESPN's Paul Kuharsky.

Some procedural blah-blah: Any player taken off another team's practice squad must become part of the new team's active roster. What this means is if someone wants to pluck corner D.J. Johnson off Indy's practice squad, they can. No compensation to the Colts is required. The player in question could give the team a chance to match or up the offer from the other team, but if they don't then that player will head to the active roster of his new team.

With Sowell now on Indianapolis roster, it seems the offensive line has, at the very least, bodies available for Sunday against the Vikings. This is not necessarily encouraging, but it was essential that Grigson upgrade the line, which was manhandled by the Bears this past Sunday. Sowell is a 6'7, 309 monster out of Mississippi State Ole Miss.

Funny side note: When you Google Sowell's name, one of the first options to come up is a message board link which reads "F*CK YOU BRADLEY SOWELL!"

Yeah, I agree. Make me feel good about the acquisition as well.

Adding to the mess was the injury to right tackle Winston Justice, a player who has built a career out of being hurt. Joe Reitz, the starting OG from last year, did not travel with the team to Chicago last Sunday because of a knee injury. Seth Olsen replaced him, and I'm actually kind of amazed it was Shipley and Person who were waived yesterday and NOT Olsen. The former Iowa product was brutalized by the Bears front.

Back to Essex, back on September 1st, we listed him as a player the Colts would likely sign because of his familiarity with Bruce Arians' offense. He isn't a stud lineman, or anything like that. What he does provide is an upgrade at LG over both Reitz and Olsen. He can also play every other position across the o-line, which is a huge asset.

If you are wanting to know why he was signed now ass opposed to before Week One, the answer is simple: Money. Because he was not on the first game roster, Essex's contract is not guaranteed for 2012.