Colts make several roster moves

The Indianapolis Colts today made several roster moves.  The team promoted defensive linemen Earl Okine and Kelcy Quarles from their practice squad to their active roster and signed running back Trey Williams to their active roster off of the Dolphins' practice squad.  To make room for those moves, the team placed wide receiver Griff Whalen and defensive lineman Billy Winn on injured reserve and waived running back Zurlon Tipton.

Earl Okine impressed during preseason with the Colts and actually made the roster out of training camp.  He played in three games and recorded three tackles earlier this year before being waived on October 1.  A few days later, he was brought back on the Colts practice squad, where he has remained since.  Many thought the team would promote him after Henry Anderson was lost for the year with a torn ACL, but instead he remained on the practice squad.  He will likely finish up the season on the Colts' active roster, so hopefully he will make the most of whatever chances he gets to impress, as he certainly did that in preseason.

Kelcy Quarles was brought back to the Colts' practice squad a few days ago after spending some time on the Patriots' and Browns' practice squads earlier this year.  He spent much of last season with the Colts as well, originally being signed off of the Patriots' practice squad and then spending time on both the Colts' active roster and practice squad.  In 2014 with the Colts, Quarles played in two games and recorded a tackle, a sack, and a pass defensed.  He spent the 2015 offseason and training camp with the Colts before being waived as a part of final roster cuts.

Trey Williams was originally signed as an undrafted free agent out of Texas A&M by the Washington Redskins earlier this year.  He spent the offseason and training camp with Washington but was waived as a part of final roster cuts.  Since then, he has spent time on the Redskins' practice squad, on the Cowboys' practice squad and active roster, on the Patriots' practice squad and active roster, and most recently on the Dolphins' practice squad.  At college at Texas A&M, Williams appeared in 36 games and rushed for 1,343 yards and 18 touchdowns on 204 carries, also catching 38 passes for 330 yards and a touchdown.

Griff Whalen was injured late in Sunday's game, on a crushing hit that jarred the ball loose in the fourth quarter.  Whalen has become a scapegoat for some fans looking to blame one person for the loss, but he actually has had a solid year with the Colts (though filled with some notable downs).  He suffered a fractured rib on Sunday on that hit, which will keep him out for the rest of the year.  While many will remember Whalen's 2014 season for the now infamous fake punt snap and then Sunday's fumble, he also caught 19 passes for 205 yards and a touchdown and returned punts (averaging 7.1 yards per return) and kicks (averaging 27.1 yards per return).  In 33 career NFL games, Whalen has played in 35 games (including postseason) and started three, catching 52 passes for 580 yards and three touchdowns, in addition to his contributions in the return game.

Billy Winn was acquired by the Colts in a trade shortly before the season began from the Cleveland Browns, and he has had a nice impact on the team this year in a situational/depth role.  He played in 12 games this year (starting three of them) and recorded 14 tackles and two fumble recoveries.  In 51 career games (21 starts), Winn has recorded 92 tackles, three sacks, five passes defensed, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries.  He suffered a torn rotator cuff

Lastly, Zurlon Tipton was waived today.  He has spent time on the Colts practice squad and active roster this year, and with two practice squad spots now open, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him end up back on the practice squad if he clears waivers.  Tipton has played in ten games this season, rushing five times for 20 yards and catching five passes for 57 yards.  It is interesting that the Colts opted to waive him today, as it has seemed in the past two weeks that Tipton was getting as much work as the Colts' number two back as Boom Herron.  Perhaps they have now decided to go to Herron as the number two back permanently, which would make sense.

One other move that Chuck Pagano announced at his press conference this afternoon that the Tennessee Titans signed quarterback Alex Tanney off of the Colts' practice squad to Tennessee's active roster.  So with all of the injuries at the quarterback position for the Colts, I'd expect them to add a quarterback this week, whether to the active roster or the practice squad.