Colts Place WR Quan Bray on Injured Reserve, Promote WR Tevaun Smith from Practice Squad

The Indianapolis Colts announced on Tuesday that the team has placed wide receiver and primary special teams returnman Quan Bray on injured reserve, while promoting fellow wide receiver Tevaun Smith from the practice squad in a corresponding roster move.

Bray injured his ankle against the Houston Texans and did not return.

With Phillip Dorsett also battling a hamstring injury suffered in Sunday night’s game, the Colts may have simply been unable to wait out Bray’s injury given their increasingly thin depth at wide receiver.

Oct 9, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts receiver Quan Bray (11) runs the ball against the Chicago Bears at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports /

While Bray’s loss certainly impacts their depth at wide receiver, he will be most missed on special teams, where the 2nd-year pro has shined since his NFL debut in 2015. Specifically, Bray was tied for 4th in the NFL in longest kick return average at 25.7 yards per kick return so far this season.

Along with placekicker Adam Vinatieri and punter Pat McAfee, he has helped the Colts become one of the league’s best special teams units as a whole. Quite frankly, he’s the surest and best special teams returnman the franchise has had in my opinion since Terrence Wilkins once donned the Horseshoe.

In his absence, expect backup running back Jordan Todman or perhaps even wide receiver Chester Rogers to assume his special teams return responsibilities.

Meanwhile, it doesn’t necessarily come as a surprise that Smith was promoted as Bray’s replacement to the 53-man active roster. The 6’2″, 205 pound undrafted rookie wideout out of Iowa was a preseason standout for the Colts, catching 10 receptions for 138 receiving yards and 2 receiving touchdowns–including a game-winning score in 4 preseason games (1 start).

Sep 1, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Tevaun Smith (5) is taken down by Cincinnati Bengals defensive back Chykie Brown (23) during the first quarter of a preseason NFL football game at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports /

If not for Rogers’ emergence in preseason, Smith likely would’ve started out the season on the Colts 53-man active roster. However, he ultimately was one of the team’s final 53-man roster cuts, before being re-signed to the team’s practice squad shortly thereafter where he’s spent the first 6 games of the regular season until now.

Otherwise, it’s worth noting that the Colts re-signed rookie cornerback Frankie Williams to the practice squad–who was just released from the 53-man active roster on Monday, as well as added wide receiver Marcus Leak to their 10-man squad.

The team also placed tight end Mike Miller on the practice squad injured reserve list in a corresponding roster move to free up a practice squad spot.

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