Colts sign linebacker Luke Rhodes to active roster

The Indianapolis Colts today signed inside linebacker Luke Rhodes from the practice squad to the active roster, filling the open spot on the 53-man roster.

That spot was, of course, open due to the suspension of inside linebacker D’Qwell Jackson, so the Colts elevated another inside linebacker to take his spot. Rhodes (6-2, 242 pounds) was signed to the Colts’ practice squad on October 5 and has remained there since. He was originally signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent out of William & Mary this offseason, but he was waived by the Bucs during final roster cuts. The Colts worked him out pre-draft, and Rhodes certainly had an impressive collegiate career. At William & Mary he started 45 games (playing in 47) and recorded 341 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 19 passes defensed, an interception, six forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. As a senior in 2015, he started all 12 games and recored 78 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, four passes defensed, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery, while he was the only FCS player named to the Butkus Award Watch List before the season.

The Colts will likely fill Jackson’s starting spot with some combination of Edwin Jackson, Josh McNary, and Antonio Morrison, but Luke Rhodes gives them some depth at the position, which is something they needed to do with that open roster spot.

To fill Rhodes’s spot on the practice squad, the Colts signed safety Stefan McClure to the ten-man squad. He was with the team in the offseason and training camp this year before he was waived as a part of final roster cuts.