Colts to sign veteran LB

The Indianapolis Colts are signing veteran linebacker Germaine Pratt to a one-year deal, per Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

The Raiders released Pratt on Monday and quickly found a new home. He received interest from at least four other teams, but opted for a reunion with Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.

Anarumo was hired for the same position in Cincinnati in 2019, the same year that the Bengals drafted Pratt. The pair worked together for six seasons until the team opted to part ways with both player and coach this offseason.

The Colts needed some depth at linebacker, per FOX54’s Mike Chappell, and Pratt more than fits the bill as a proven defender with 92 starts under his belt. He showed plenty of development under Anarumo in Cincinnati, totaling 360 tackles, 19 passes defended, six interceptions, five forced fumbles and three sacks over his last three seasons as a Bengal.

The Colts’ veteran linebackers, Zaire Franklin and Joe Bachie, have both disappointed to start the year, so Pratt’s familiarity with Anarumo could see him quickly take over a prominent role in Indianapolis, especially since the Colts are still waiting on Jaylon Carlies to recover from his ankle injury fully. His stint on injured reserve was not expected to extend far past the four-game minimum, but the second-year linebacker has yet to return to practice.

Pratt could even play himself into a long-term role in Indianapolis if he returns to his previous production under Anarumo. Franklin is signed through the 2027 season, but has no guaranteed money remaining on his contract, per OverTheCap. If Pratt seems like a better option moving forward, he could take over a starting job for the rest of this season and potentially beyond.