Rookie defensive tackle Tim Smith will be eligible to make his NFL debut when the Indianapolis Colts play the Atlanta Falcons in Berlin on Sunday.
The Colts selected Smith from Alabama in the sixth round of the NFL Draft on April 25.
Smith initially made Indianapolis’ 53-player active roster when the Colts reduced their preseason roster to the regular-season limit in August. But when Indianapolis claimed Chad Muma after he was waived in the Jacksonville Jaguars’ preseason-to-regular-season roster reduction, the Colts waived Smith to make room for the veteran linebacker.
After Smith cleared waivers, Indianapolis signed the defensive tackle for its practice squad.
Each NFL team can elevate two players from its practice squad to active status for each game. After placing defensive tackle DeForest Buckner on injured reserve this week, the Colts elevated Smith for the first time this season to provide depth in the defensive interior.
The Colts and the Falcons will square off at 8:30 a.m. CST Sunday at Olympic Stadium in Berlin as part of the NFL’s International Series. NFL Network will televise the game.
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Another former Alabama defensive lineman will be eligible to get on the field on Sunday after being activated on Saturday: Da’Shawn Hand missed the past four games on injured reserve, but the Los Angeles Chargers restored him to the active roster on Saturday.
Hand sustained a groin injury during a 27-10 loss to the Washington Commanders on Oct. 5 after starting the Chargers’ first five games of the 2025 season, equaling his total number of starts across the previous eight seasons.
Los Angeles plays the Pittsburgh Steelers at 7:20 p.m. Sunday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. NBC will televise the game.
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