Colts Sign Familiar Face to Bolster Linebacker Corps

The linebacker corps has been a sore subject for Indianapolis Colts fans throughout the young season, and now, a wrench has been thrown into the mix.

On Tuesday, the Colts announced that they signed free-agent Germaine Pratt to their practice squad.

Pratt played for the Colts last season and was arguably their best linebacker. After the Las Vegas Raiders released him on Oct. 6, he signed with the Colts two days later and started all 12 games he played. Pratt totaled 101 tackles (five for loss), one forced fumble, two fumbles recovered, one interception, and eight pass breakups.

Pratt (6'3", 250, 30 years old) was a third-round pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2019 NFL Draft and played his first six years there. He and current Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo spent their entire tenure in Cincinnati together before Pratt asked for a trade last offseason and was ultimately released, later to sign with Las Vegas.

After Pratt's time with the Raiders soured, he reunited with Anarumo in Indianapolis.

The Colts moved on from starting linebackers Pratt and Zaire Franklin this offseason to get "younger and faster" in the defensive front seven. They signed Akeem Davis-Gaither in free agency and drafted CJ Allen and Bryce Boettcher in the second and fourth rounds, respectively.

Both Allen and Boettcher have been a bit too green for the Colts to trust them as starters, so Anarumo and linebackers coach James Bettcher have rolled with Davis-Gaither and fellow veteran Jaylon Carlies as the primary linebackers.

Still, Allen was anointed internally as a special player the night he was drafted, yet he has played only the fifth-most snaps (35) among Colts linebackers this year, behind Davis-Gaither (307), Carlies (159), Boettcher (90), and Ajiake (49).

Pratt's role with the Colts this year is questionable. Will he start alongside Davis-Gaither? Is the rib injury that cost Carlies Week 5 worse than thought? Are Allen and Boettcher simply not cutting it? Was this move made to address the tackling issues that have plagued the Colts in three of their five games?

Along with the Pratt announcement, the Colts signed tight end Pharaoh Brown to the active roster from the practice squad.

Brown (6'5", 246, 32) is a journeyman tight end who came into the league as an undrafted rookie from Oregon in 2017. He's been on 10 teams, including multiple stints with the Cleveland Browns and Colts.

He's primarily known as a blocking tight end but has had years where he was more involved in the passing game. In 94 career games (56 starts), Brown has 74 catches (102 targets) for 752 yards (10.2 avg.) and three touchdowns.

The Colts now have tight ends Tyler Warren, Mo Alie-Cox, Drew Ogletree, and Brown on the active roster. Will Mallory is on Injured Reserve with a thumb injury and should be activated soon, as he returned to full practice last week.