Colts Sign Familiar Face at Receiver Amid Injuries

Wide receiver is arguably the biggest current need for the Indianapolis Colts, and while they made a move at the position on Sunday, it's not one that will move the needle to the necessary degree.

The Colts announced that they signed free agent wide receiver D.J. Montgomery and waived wide receiver Liam Clifford.

This is the third stint with the Colts for Montgomery (6'1", 201, 29 years old), who originally came into the league in 2019 as an undrafted free agent with the Cleveland Browns before moving on to the New York Jets (2020-21), Colts (2022), Houston Texans (2022), Michigan Panthers of the UFL (2023), and the Colts (2023-25).

Montgomery spent last season on Injured Reserve with an undisclosed injury.

In 10 career games with the Jets and Colts, Montgomery has caught 6-of-14 targets for 92 yards (15.3 avg.) and a touchdown. He's played 174 offensive snaps and 71 on special teams.

Montgomery last played in 2023, when he caught three passes for 56 yards (18.7 avg.) and his lone career touchdown for the Colts in seven games.

Clifford (6'1", 200, 23 years old) was a tryout player for the Colts during rookie minicamp in May, and briefly filled the roster spot of running back Lincoln Pare, who was recently waived with a Non-Football Injury designation.

Clifford played in 52 career games at Penn State (15 starts), catching 42 passes for 530 yards (12.6 avg.) and a touchdown. He also made a marginal impact on special teams, playing 204 career snaps and scoring a touchdown on a blocked punt last season.

Clifford is the younger brother of former Nittany Lions quarterback Sean Clifford.

The Colts' top receiver, Alec Pierce, has missed all of the offseason program and training camp to this point while recovering from March ankle surgery. No. 2 receiver Josh Downs has also missed the last two camp practices with a groin injury. Laquon Treadwell, who is among the competitors for the WR3 spot, has missed the last three practices with a hamstring injury.

The receiver reps over the last several days have been divvied up between Ashton Dulin, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Anthony Gould, Coleman Owen, Deion Burks, Eli Pancol, Sahmir Hagans, Raylen Sharpe, Ben Nikkel, E.J. Horton Jr., and Clifford.

Montgomery will now have an opportunity to compete in three joint practices against the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons, as well as preseason matchups against the Patriots, Falcons, and Detroit Lions.

The Colts practice again on Tuesday morning at 10:10 a.m. ET in Foxborough, Mass., against the Patriots before their preseason kickoff on Thursday night.