Colts Add 6th Round Pick Amarlo Herrera to Practice Squad
The Indianapolis Colts recently added rookie inside linebacker Amarlo Herrera to their practice squad, while OG David Arkin was waived in a corresponding move:
As noted, Herrera was a 6th round pick of the Colts out of Georgia in this year’s NFL Draft, but was waived along with running back Dan “Boom” Herron from the active roster earlier this week to make room for defensive tackle T.Y. McGill and offensive guard Robert Myers.
Herrera was solid, if unspectacular in preseason, as he played in all 4 preseason games. He recorded 18 total tackles and an interception for the Colts during that span, even starting in the team’s preseason finale.
The 6’1″, 244 pound Herrera could be the next man up should an injury arise to D’Qwell Jackson, Jerrell Freeman, Nate Irving, and even Sio Moore at linebacker on the team’s active roster.
Jan 11, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Indianapolis Colts linebacker Josh McNary (57) against the Denver Broncos in the 2014 AFC Divisional playoff football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Colts defeated the Broncos 24-13. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
However, it’s worth noting that 2nd-year inside linebacker Josh McNary is also on the team’s practice squad, having returned to the Colts organization after being recently acquitted of previous rape charges.
Last season, McNary played in 15 games for the Colts, making 4 starts before being placed on the Commissioner-Exempt List.
It’s possible that the team would turn to the more proven McNary if an injury arises, while Herrera is more of a developmental project at inside linebacker as a late round rookie on the team’s practice squad.
Either way, it appears that the Colts liked enough of what they saw from Herrera in preseason to keep him within their organization. As was the case with Andrew Jackson, an inside linebacker who was a 6th round pick of the team himself in 2014, Herrera could see himself on the team’s practice squad before eventually being promoted to the active roster later this season.
However, unlike Jackson–who was released earlier this offseason for off-the-field transgressions, here’s hoping Herrera can be a model player for the team both on and off the field. However, past precedent has shown that he could very well find himself on the active roster as the season progresses.
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