Colts Release Veteran Linebacker Amid Roster Moves

The Indianapolis Colts announced Thursday that they released veteran linebacker Germaine Pratt from their practice squad.

They also signed free-agent offensive tackle Charlie Heck to the active roster and guard Joshua Gray to the practice squad.

The Colts signed Pratt (6'3", 250, 30 years old) on Oct. 13 after he played for the team in 2025 but was not re-signed in the offseason.

Pratt played with the Cincinnati Bengals for former defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who now holds the same title with the Colts, from 2019-24. Pratt was released by the Bengals last offseason and signed with the Las Vegas Raiders before being released again on Oct. 6. Pratt signed with the Colts two days later and started all 12 games he played, totaling 101 tackles (five for loss), one forced fumble, two fumbles recovered, one interception, and eight pass breakups.

He lasted just two weeks and one game with the Colts this time around. Indy is getting healthier at linebacker, as Jaylon Carlies returned to action from a rib injury last week, and rookie CJ Allen should return this week from an ankle injury that kept him out of his first career start last Sunday.

Heck (6'8", 311, 29) was a fourth-round pick by the Houston Texans in 2020 and has also spent time with the Arizona Cardinals (2024), San Francisco 49ers (2024), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2025), and Miami Dolphins (2026).

Heck was active for all 17 games last year with the Buccaneers, making six starts. He has 29 starts in 67 career games.

Gray (6'5", 299, 26) was an undrafted free agent in 2025, initially signed by the Atlanta Falcons. He has also spent time with the Carolina Panthers (2026) and Minnesota Vikings (2026). He has yet to be active for an NFL regular-season game.

At tackle, the Colts now have Bernhard Raimann, Jalen Travis, Luke Tenuta, and Heck on the active roster, and Nolan Rucci, Reid Holskey, and Rob Mbaeteka on the practice squad.

At guard, the Colts have Matt Goncalves, Jalen Farmer, and Dalton Tucker on the active roster, and Gray on the practice squad.

The Colts traded their longtime starting left guard, Quenton Nelson, to the Seattle Seahawks this week.

Nelson's departure may have spurred the need for both Heck and Gray. Goncalves, the starting right guard, was considered the team's top swing tackle option, but with him taking over the top guard role, it's more important for Tenuta and someone else to be available to fill in at tackle.

Along with Heck and Gray, on Thursday, the Colts also worked out free-agent offensive linemen Nick Broeker, Xavier Truss, and Landon Young.