Colts Sign WR Deion Branch; CB Greg Toler to IR

Aug 29, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Deion Branch (84) prior to the game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim O

Just a few days after pulling off the greatest comeback in franchise history, the Colts made some big roster moves.

With the showdown between the Colts and Patriots just a few days away, Indianapolis has signed former New England wide receiver Deion Branch to the active roster. He has career numbers totaling  518 receptions for 6,644 yards and 39 touchdowns. He played with the Patriots from 2002 through 2005 before spending the next four season with the Seahawks.

Branch bounced back and forth between those two teams for a couple years, then spent the last two season playing with the Patriots once again. He has yet to play in a game in 2013. Branch worked out for the Colts a few weeks ago, leading many to assume that he would be signed to fill the need at WR.

Wide receiver Josh Lenz was also activated from the team’s practice squad. The addition of two wideouts would suggest that the Colts are going to stick with the no-huddle passing attack that has worked so well in the past few weeks. Some have suggested that the Colts are trying to get inside intel out of Branch over the next week. Considering he wasn’t in the Pats locker room for a day this season, that is very unlikely. The only insight he could provide would be on some of Tom Brady’s tendencies, but that isn’t enough to sign him to the active roster.

Injury Report

The Colts moved CB Greg Toler and DE Fili Moala to IR. Toler spent the second half of the season battling a groin injury and it appears that it is too serious to continue. Moala spent the past few weeks trying to recover from a knee injury.

Toler, a corner with a history that is equal parts mediocrity and inactives, struggled against Kansas City, getting torched early by Donnie Avery. He appeared to aggravate the injury on that play, and was kept out of the game shortly afterwards.

Other injuries of note include wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey who will be out at least a week with a hamstring injury. 

The Patriots announced today that LB Brandon Spikes on IR with a knee injury.

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