Colts sign quarterback Josh Freeman

The Indianapolis Colts today made several roster moves, most notably signing quarterback Josh Freeman, who the team had in for a workout yesterday.  The Colts also promoted inside linebacker Amarlo Herrera from the practice squad to the active roster, placed linebacker Josh McNary on injured reserve, and signed guard Kitt O'Brien to the practice squad.  The moves still leave the Colts with one open roster spot on the 53-man roster.

The signing of Freeman was one that was expected, as head coach Chuck Pagano noted yesterday that the team did have Freeman in for a workout and also that they would need to add a quarterback.  On Monday, Charlie Whitehurst was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, while Matt Hasselbeck is described as doubtful for this Sunday's game with a shoulder injury.  Andrew Luck has missed the past six games with a lacerated kidney and torn abdominal muscle, and while he hasn't been ruled out yet for Sunday's game, it also isn't sounding too likely that he will play in the regular season finale.  That leaves just Stephen Morris, who was signed off of the Eagles practice squad by the Colts last week, and now Josh Freeman as the healthy quarterbacks on the roster.  Asked yesterday whether the Colts would start Morris or Freeman on Sunday, Chuck Pagano said that he didn't know the answer to that yet and that the team would evaluate it in practice this week.

Freeman is a former first round pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and early in his career looked to be on his way to becoming a promising NFL quarterback.  Things fell apart quickly for him, however, and he wound up with the Minnesota Vikings midway through the 2013 season.  Since then, Freeman has had offseason/training camp stints with the New York Giants and the Miami Dolphins (this year), but he eventually signed with the Brooklyn Bolts of the FXFL this year.  In his career, Freeman has played in 61 career games and has completed 1,164 of 2,020 passes for 13,724 yards, 80 touchdowns, and 67 interceptions for a passer rating of 77.8.  He also has rushed for 922 yards and four touchdowns in his career.

This marks Amarlo Herrera's third stint on the active roster this season, as he has been on the active roster for two different games and been on the practice squad the rest of the time.  The team's sixth round pick this year has assisted on one special teams tackle.  He takes Josh McNary's spot on the roster, as McNary was placed on IR today.  He played in 13 games for the Colts this year (starting one) and recorded 21 tackles, a tackle for loss, and five special teams tackles.