Colts Waive K Blake Grupe, Finalize Roster Cuts

The Colts have made the following moves to reduce the roster to 53 players ahead of today’s cutdown deadline:

Waived:

• Cameron Ball, DT
• Ulysses Bentley, RB
• Austin Brown, S
• Rob Carter Jr., CB
• Anderson Castle, RB
• Blake Freeland, T
• JJ Galbreath, TE
• Anthony Gould, WR
• Blake Grupe, K
• Sahmir Hagans, WR
• Kenneth Harris, CB
• Josh Kreutz, C
• Roy Mbaeteka, T
• Mitchell Melton, DE
• Tyler Moore, TE
• Jimmy Morrissey, C
• Durrell Nchami, DE
• Ben Nikkel, WR
• Eli Pancol, WR
• Mekhi Rodgers, CB
• Nolan Rucci, T
• Daniel Scott, S
• Raylen Sharpe, WR
• Geno VanDeMark, C
• Devin Veresuk, LB
• Trey Washington, S
• Trey Wedig, T

Released:

• Pharaoh Brown, TE
• Derrick Nnadi, DT
• Josh Sills, G
• Juanyeh Thomas, S
• Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, WR

Placed on IR (return designation):

• Will Mallory, TE

Placed on IR:

• D.J. Montgomery, WR
• Coleman Owen, WR

Grupe was in a tight contest for the kicking gig alongside Spencer Shrader this offseason. Today’s news confirms the latter has won that battle, though. Grupe will be an interesting candidate for a waiver claim among teams seeking an upgrade or competition at the K spot. If no claims are filed tomorrow, Grupe and the other Colts who have been waived will become free agents.

Brown has missed the cut after signing with Indianapolis in March. His time as a member of the Colts may not be over yet, however. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the team plans to sign Brown to the practice squad in the coming days. Doing so would give Indianapolis a veteran of 94 NFL games as depth at the TE spot.

Other strong candidates for a taxi squad spot have emerged. Harris and Scott are both players the Colts could look to retain, according to Joel Erickson of the Indy Star. Provided they clear waivers, a deal with Indianapolis to remain in the fold via a practice squad pact will be possible.