With cornerback JuJu Brents sidelined for the year due to a knee injury, the Indianapolis Colts have acquired two veteran defensive backs to their practice squad.
The Indianapolis Colts were handed a big setback this week when top outside cornerback JuJu Brents sustained a season-ending knee injury.
The corner group and defensive back room as a whole were already under scrutiny from the outside owing to their lack of depth and experience, and now they will undergo an unnecessary test.
As a result of Brents’ injury, the Colts are looking for backup in the secondary, signing veteran free agents cornerback Kelvin Joseph and safety Ronnie Harrison Jr. to the practice squad on Wednesday. They also promoted cornerback Chris Lammons from the practice squad on Tuesday. In a simultaneous move, the Colts placed Brents on injured reserve and dismissed defensive end Titus Leo off the practice squad.
Joseph (6’1″, 195 pounds, 24 years old) was selected in the second round (44th overall) by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2021 NFL Draft, but has since played for the Miami Dolphins (2023), Seattle Seahawks (2023), and Kansas City Chiefs (2024).
He last played regularly with Dallas in 2022 and has spent a significant amount of time on practice teams since then, garnering sporadic call-ups. In 31 career games (3 starts), he has 39 tackles (1 for loss), 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, and four pass breakups.
Harrison and Lammons were both Colts veterans who had been with the team since last summer. Harrison was removed from the Colts’ preseason roster this summer, as was Lammons, but he was re-signed to the practice squad. He was brought up last week for the Week 1 game against the Houston Texans, but was returned to the practice squad following the game.
The Colts’ cornerback group now includes Kenny Moore II, Jaylon Jones, Dallis Flowers, Samuel Womack III, and Lammons, with David Long Jr., Jaylin Simpson, Ameer Speed, and Joseph on the practice squad.
At safety, the Colts have Julian Blackmon, Nick Cross, Rodney Thomas II, and Trevor Denbow on the active roster, with Marcel Dabo and Harrison on the practice squad.