Colts 2016 player preview: Tight end Emil Igwenagu

The Indianapolis Colts will report to training camp on July 26 (TODAY!) with their 90-man roster, which will be cut down to 53 players by the end of the preseason. To pass the time until camp, we’re taking a look at every player on the Colts’ 90-man roster. Today, we’re looking at tight end Emil Igwenagu.

Who is he?

We wrap up our offseason series of each player on the Colts’ 90-man roster entering camp by looking at tight end Emil Igwenagu, who was just signed by the team last week. He was originally signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent out of Massachusetts in 2012, and he spent time on the Eagles practice squad in 2012 and 2013 (with some time on the active roster mixed in) and on the Detroit Lions practice squad in 2014. The Lions released him following the conclusion of the preseason in 2015, and he wasn’t signed anywhere for the 2015 season. He got a shot with the Colts this offseason, however, as he was signed last week in favor of quarterback Josh Woodrum, who was released. Igwenagu is more of a fullback/tight end hybrid player, as most of his NFL action has been at fullback.

What is his role?

Igwenagu is immediately behind everyone else simply due to the fact that he wasn’t working out with the team during OTAs and mini-camp like everyone else was. That alone makes his chances slim at making the roster, especially when considering the fact that Erik Swoope, Mike Miller, and Darion Griswold have been working with the team all offseason competing for the third tight end spot. With the news announced today about Griswold (physically unable to perform) and Miller (non-football injury) being placed on injury lists to start camp, however, Igwenagu’s chances could improve slightly, but even then he’s very much of a longshot to make the roster.

What are his chances?

He is a long shot to actually make it, though the competition for the third tight end spot is ongoing.