Colts Sign OLB Chris Carter, Promote CB Frankie Williams

The Indianapolis Colts announced on Thursday that the team has signed free agent outside linebacker Chris Carter and promoted cornerback Frankie Williams from the practice squad to the 53-man active roster, while waiving outside linebacker Trevor Bates and offensive tackle Jeremy Vujnovich in corresponding moves.

Of course, it’s not Carter’s 1st stint with the Colts, who appeared in 1 game for the team in 2014 before being subsequently released.

Originally a 5th round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2011, Chris Carter spent his first 3 seasons in the “Steel City” before joining the Colts (2011), Cincinnati Bengals (2014-15), and Baltimore Ravens (2015-16).

The 6th-year veteran has appeared in 53 career games (4 starts), recording 15 tackles and 2 fumble recoveries. He had spent the first 5 games of this year’s regular season with the Ravens before being released on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, rookie cornerback Frankie Willams was released shortly after the Colts final 53-man roster cuts in early September, but was re-signed to the practice squad soon thereafter.

The former Purdue Boilermaker was one of the Colts standouts of the secondary in preseason, recording 15 tackles in the team’s 4 preseason games–holding his own as a nickelback.

It’s a bit surprising that the team would release rookie Trevor Bates, who was a 7th round pick of the Colts in this year’s NFL Draft, after he had just been promoted to the 53-active man roster last week off of the practice squad.

Otherwise, offensive tackle Jeremy Vujnovich was promoted off the practice squad in early October for additional offensive line depth, but the Colts are significantly healthier among that unit than the team was two weeks ago.

It’s highly possible that both Bates and Vujnovich could be strong candidates for re-stashing on the Colts practice squad–should they both in fact clear initial waivers.