Colts Re-Sign Olympian Jeff Demps to Practice Squad
According to ESPN’s NFL Insider Adam Caplan, the Indianapolis Colts have re-signed running back Jeff Demps to their practice squad. Of course, Demps is most known for being an Olympian on the U.S. Olympic 4×100-meter relay team. He’s diminutive at a listed, 5’7″, 175 pounds, but he clearly has plenty of speed to burn.
Jeff Demps has an Olympic silver medal. The U.S. track star now wants to make a run at a Super Bowl ring.
Demps was originally signed by the Indianapolis Colts to their practice squad on October 21st of this year, but was subsequently released nearly a week later on October 29th. He has previously spent time with the New England Patriots organization, who he originally signed with as an undrafted free agent out of Florida in 2012, as well as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who then acquired him from the Patriots in the 2013 LeGarrette Blount trade.
Demps is a bit of a project as a special teams returnman; however, the Colts clearly think he could amount to something special in time, as this is the second time that they’ve brought him onto their practice squad. While the team appears set with Josh Cribbs as a returnman currently on the season, Demps could eventually develop into a quality special teams returnman for the Colts down the road.
The Colts haven’t been shy in their attempts to upgrade their special teams return game. Besides working out and signing Josh Cribbs, they’ve also brought in returner Trindon Holliday in the past for a workout and now signed Jeff Demps to their practice squad for the second time. Colts’ GM Ryan Grigson has left no stone unturned when it comes to the special teams return game, and it looks like he’s constantly looking at unique ways to improve.
In addition to Demps, the team also announced that it has re-signed Griff Whalen to the practice squad, as well as waived running back Michael Hill from it in a corresponding move.
UPDATE (5:53 PM): The Colts have also brought back defensive tackle Kelcy Quarles, only this time to their practice squad. OLB Trevardo Williams was waived to make room.