Colts place Henry Anderson on PUP, Clayton Geathers on non-football injury list

The Indianapolis Colts today placed defensive lineman Henry Anderson and tight end Darion Griswold on the physically unable to perform list, while they also placed safety Clayton Geathers and tight end Mike Miller on the non-football injury list.

The difference between the physically unable to perform list and the non-football injury list is that players on the NFI suffered an injury away from the team, whether it be working out on their own or something else. During training camp and the preseason, players are eligible to be activated at any point. If a player begins the regular season still on the PUP list (and only a player placed on that list at the start of camp can be placed on it at the start of the regular season), he will automatically miss the first six weeks. Again, though, in camp they can be activated at any point.

The fact that Anderson was placed on the PUP is no surprise, as he’s still recovering from a torn ACL. This move was absolutely expected, and it allows Anderson to continue to recover. As far as we know, the hope is still that he’ll be ready for week one. When it comes to the defensive linemen, perhaps the most surprising part is that Arthur Jones wasn’t placed on the PUP list, which is a very good sign that he should be ready to go very soon, if not tomorrow (though it may be in a limited role).

The most notable addition to the list (because Anderson’s addition was expected) is safety Clayton Geathers, the starter alongside Mike Adams. Geathers was designated on the non-football injury list, meaning he likely got hurt away from the team. We don’t know any details on the injury, though some other members of the media tell me they saw him in a distance with a boot on his foot. This will be something worth watching.

Obviously, the inclusion of Anderson and Geathers on these lists are the most noteworthy, but an underrated note to make is that two tight ends will start camp on these lists too. Undrafted rookie Darion Griswold is on the PUP, while Mike Miller is on the non-football injury list (again, meaning he likely suffered an injury away from the team). We don’t have any details on those injuries either, though hopefully we’ll find out more from Chuck Pagano tomorrow. In the meantime, that leaves the Colts with just Dwayne Allen, Jack Doyle, Erik Swoope, and Emil Igwenagu as the tight ends on the roster, meaning that Swoope and Igwenagu (who was just signed last week) will be competing for the third spot, at least at first. If Griswold and Miller miss some time (and the fact that they’re opening camp on this list suggests they might), that’s a huge advantage for Swoope in his quest to win the third tight end position.

This story will be updated shortly.