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Indianapolis Colts Release Khaled Holmes

By Garrett Hagan

Jan 11, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) calls a play as center Khaled Holmes (62) looks on against the Denver Broncos in the 2014 AFC Divisional playoff football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Colts defeated the Broncos 24-13. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) calls a play as center Khaled Holmes (62) looks on against the Denver Broncos in the 2014 AFC Divisional playoff football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Colts defeated the Broncos 24-13. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Indianapolis Colts announced Monday afternoon that they have released offensive linemen Khaled Holmes.

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay announced earlier Monday that the team has decided to part ways with center Khaled Holmes.

The move comes as no surprise, as the Colts used their 18th-overall pick in the draft on center Ryan Kelly out of the University of Alabama. The team clearly envisions Kelly to be the Colt’s starting center come week-one of the upcoming season.

Originally a fourth-round pick in 2013 from USC, Holmes never quite provided the Colts with much stability along the offensive line. Holmes has played in 17 career games at both center and guard.

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During the 2015 NFL season, Holmes played in nine total games, including starting seven of those games at center. Unfortunately, inconsistencies and injuries plagued his young career with the Colts. That, and the drafting of four-total offensive linemen in this year’s draft including two centers make the Holmes release less than surprising.

Here’s a little overview of the newest offensive linemen additions through the draft this year for Indianapolis:

Round 1, pick 18 – Ryan Kelly, Center, Alabama

Round 3, pick 82 – Le’Raven Clark, Tackle, Texas Tech

Round 5, pick 166 – Joe Haeg, Tackle, North Dakota State

Round 7, pick 248 – Austin Blythe, Center, Iowa

Not only with the selection of Kelly, but the selection of Blythe — assuming he makes the final roster — made Holmes’s chances of remaining with the Colts look slim-to-none. This could be mostly due to the fact that the selection of two centers in this year’s draft class indicates that General Manager Ryan Grigson is looking for a fresh start from Holmes’s injury history and wants to build depth behind the position.

Grigson has thus far received high appraisal for his draft selections from this past draft, and the selections of all of the linemen is both much-needed and the smartest route he could have gone.

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With Holmes being off the roster, expect the versatile Blythe to be the team’s backup at the center spot going into training camp.

Interestingly enough, the cutting of Holmes means that guard Hugh Thornton is the lone wolf from the Colts’ 2013 draft class. However, things seem to be looking up for the team’s offensive line woes and the situation should become interesting as the 2016 season approaches.

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