Colts New Roundup

Aug 18, 2013; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (8) stands under center against the New York Giants during the second quarter of a preseason game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

It has been a busy week for coach Chuck Pagano and GM Ryan Grigson.

Players for the Colts have been in and out of practice all week. Some are expected to play on Saturday against the Cleveland Browns, others will be held out.

This week also saw the Colts make a trade with the Baltimore Ravens.

Delone Carter Traded 

The running back was dealt to the Ravens in exchange for wide receiver David Reed. It became clear over the past couple weeks that Carter didn’t fit in with this team. He was destined to be cut within the next couple weeks, and trading him allows the Colts to get something in return. Carter appeared in 26 games with the Colts rushing for 499 yards and five touchdowns on 133 carries.

Reed is entering his fourth season in the NFL. He has been used primarily on special teams with the Ravens. Last year he caught five passes for 66 yards. As a kick returner (which he hasn’t done since 2011), he returned 39 kickoffs for an average of 29 yards and he returned one for a touchdown. He is decent as a gunner on special teams and forced two fumbles his rookie season.

The backup wide receivers haven’t exactly wowed anyone during the preseason, and this gives the Colts a chance to find some talent to round out the depth chart.

Injury Report

A number of players won’t be playing this Saturday. Tight end Coby Fleener hasn’t practiced this week as he recovers from a knee sprain. Fleener will miss out on valuable reps that he sorely needs to redeem himself and build up something resembling reliability.

The Colts have been thin at tight end but Dwayne Allen has returned to practice after recovering from a foot injury. Unfortunately, Allen has been ruled out of Saturday’s game. Also out this weekend will be running back Ahmad Bradshaw.

Bradshaw continues to recover from foot surgery and has been taking more and more reps at practice this week. It isn’t all that vitale for him to get carries in the preseason. Fans may remember how often Edgerrin James had an “injury” that would hold him out of preseason games, only to be just fine in time for the season opener. Bradshaw should be healthy in time for the home opener against Oakland.

Right guard Mike McGlynn will also be held out after suffering a bone bruise on his knee in practice this week. Pagano suggested that Jeff Linkenbach would take over the starting spot for McGlynn against Cleveland. He would also like to get rookie Hugh Thornton reps with the starting unit. McGlynn has been horrible in both preseason games, earning the lowest grades of ANY of the offensive linemen.

Tomorrow we’ll have a preview of Saturday’s game against the Browns.

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