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Colts frequently call up practice squad players to fill roster gaps during the season
Undrafted free agents like Bentley IV and Castle provide running back depth
Versatile players like Sills and Washington offer special teams and positional flexibility
NFL: JUN 01 Indianapolis Colts OTA
Source: Icon Sportswire / Getty
INDIANAPOLIS – Ever since the NFL expanded the practice squad to 16 spots, and teams being able to use those players in a game setting up to 3 times per player, it’s been an active place to monitor.
The Colts have been one of those teams frequently calling guys up late in the week to get them through a 17-game season.
Let’s meet the Colts practice squad, with 15 of the names below (still 2 spots open):
RB-Ulysses Bentley IV: I thought this undrafted free agent from 2025 had a real chance to be on the initial 53-man roster. But the Colts opted for a former draft pick in D.J. Giddens over Bentely IV.
RB-Anderson Castle: An undrafted free agent in 2026, Castle brought a bruising running style to a Colts running back room that struggled to find some options behind Jonathan Taylor and rookie Seth McGowan.
WR-Anthony Gould: The team’s punt returner each of the last two seasons, Gould missed some valuable time in camp due to a groin injury. If the Colts want, they could call Gould up from the practice squad to handle punt return duties a few times.
WR-Nick Westbrook-Ikhine: Many thought the Colts should have kept the veteran in Westbrook-Ikhine over Laquon Treadwell. The Colts are keeping the former IU receiver around though.
TE-Pharaoh Brown: For now, the Colts only have 3 tight ends on their active roster. Brown joined the team in training camp and got some notable first-team action due to some attrition above him on the depth chart.
OT-Nolan Rucci: The Colts keep around one of their more prized undrafted free agents. Rucci did miss some valuable time of training camp/the preseason, before returning in late August. Currently, the Colts are without a true backup offensive tackle on their 53-man roster.
OT-Ray Mbaeteka: Each team gets an International player exemption on their practice squad. That spot is going to Mbaeteka. Back in 2022, the 6-8 and 330-pound Mbaeteka began his NFL career with Tony Sparano Jr. and the New York Giants.
OL-Josh Sills: I debated having Sills on my 53-man roster, as the Colts moved him around a decent amount during training camp. Sills has some starting experience in the league.
DE-Mithcell Melton: An undrafted free agent out of Virginia, Melton was with the Colts throughout the offseason.
DT-Cam Ball: The Colts were high on Ball when they signed him as an undrafted free agent back in April. He hangs around on the practice squad.
LB-West Weeks: The only undrafted free agent to make the roster was a linebacker in Tahj Chambers. It was the Ole Miss product in Chambers making it over the LSU product in Weeks.
CB-Rob Carter Jr: It was a rough preseason finale for Carter Jr. Before that, he was making a case for a potential spot in offering some versatility.
CB-Kenneth Harris: The Colts are keeping Harris around, after he joined the team last week, following the release of Mekhi Blackmon. Harris was originally an undrafted free agent of the Patriots in 2026.
S-Trey Washington: This was a name I pondered for the 53-man roster, thinking the Colts might keep a 5th safety for special teams purposes. Washington was an undrafted free agent by the Colts two years ago.
S-Daniel Scott: A former 5th round pick, Scott was finally healthy enough to try and earn a roster spot for the Colts. The 2026 season will be Scott’s 4th in the NFL, with 4 games of experience