Report: Colts Visiting with RB Mikel Leshoure

The Colts running back position still has questions surrounding it.  How much will Trent Richardson be improved this year?  Will Ahmad Bradshaw stay healthy?  And just how much will Dan Herron do?  With all of those questions, it shouldn't be surprising for the Colts to look at other running back options, and according to a report from the Detroit Free Press' Dave Birkett this afternoon, that's exactly what the Colts are doing.  Birkett is reporting that former Detroit Lions running back Mikel Leshoure is in Indianapolis today visiting with the Colts.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Mikel Leshoure, who was waived by the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Lions?src=hash">#Lions</a> on Saturday, is scheduled to visit the Indianapolis Colts. Former second-round pick.</p>&mdash; Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) <a href="https://twitter.com/davebirkett/status/507599633367834625">September 4, 2014</a></blockquote>

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Birkett also wrote in an article about the visit:

"The Colts engaged the Lions in trade talks about Leshoure at the trade deadline last year, but Lions general manager Martin Mayhew did not want to part with the running back at that time."

Leshoure missed his entire rookie season in 2011 with a torn Achilles after being drafted in the second round.  In 2012, he started 14 games for the Lions, rushing for 798 yards and 9 touchdowns while averaging 3.7 yards per carry in addition to catching 34 passes for 214 yards.  Last year, however, Leshoure just didn't get much playing time and managed to be play in just 3 games, rushing only 2 times for 9 yards.  He was waived on Saturday as the Lions made their final cuts to get down to 53-players.

For the Colts, it would be a good pickup to add Leshoure to their backfield.  Again, there's absolutely no given that they'll sign him, but they at least have interest enough to bring him in for a visit.  Many players leave without ever being signed to that team, but we'll just have to wait and see on this one.  If signed, Leshoure would be a power back option behind Trent Richardson and Ahmad Bradshaw and provide experience and ability from the third running back position.  Colts fans might not like him coming in and passing Dan Herron on the depth chart, but at this point Leshoure is a better overall option than Herron, though playing a different role.  With Zurlon Tipton as the fourth running back, he would seem to be a prime candidate to land on the practice squad anyway.

Again, these are just reports, but they're at least worth noting.  We'll just have to wait and see if anything comes of it.