Due in part to the season-ending injury to linebacker A.J. Edds, the Indianapolis Colts have made a trade to boost that position. Edds, who went down earlier this week with an ACL injury, will be released and go on injured reserve.
To replace the spot left open by Edds, the Colts have made a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, to pick up linebackers Moise Fokou and Greg Lloyd. In return, the Colts have sent cornerback Kevin Thomas and a seventh-round pick in 2013 to Philadelphia.
Thomas was a third-round pick for the Colts in the 2010 NFL Draft, but missed that entire season due to injury. Thomas has only 32 tackles in his NFL career.
Fokou is a fourth-year veteran that was drafted late by the Eagles in the 2009 NFL Draft. Fokou spent most of his career making tackles on the defensive side of the ball and leading the Eagles in tackles on special teams, but did go down late last season with an ankle injury. When healthy, Fokou could help the Colts immensly as both a linebacker and special teams defender.
Greg Lloyd Jr. is the son of former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Greg Lloyd Sr. Lloyd, drafted in 2011 by the Eagles, spent much of last season on the practice squad, but was eventually promoted to the main roster. Lloyd has the potential to be molded into a well-rounded pro player if given the opportunity.
These two additions will no doubt help to stock up the Colts at the linebacker position by adding young talent and veteran production, for a team that is starting to look more and more defensive-minded.