In Indianapolis’ second preseason game before the 2024 season, Isaiah Land showed why the Colts had snatched him from the Dallas Cowboys via the waiver wire in 2023. Early on, the fast, lanky pass rusher out of Florida A&M tracked down Arizona QB Clayton Tune for a sack, foiling a third-down conversion attempt.
In the second half, he burst through the line again, this time nailing running back Emari Demercado for a loss.
Land made plays like that throughout both of his preseasons with Indy. But it wasn’t enough to win him a spot on the Colts’ final 53-man roster announced on Tuesday.
Why did the Indianapolis Colts let Isaiah Land go?
Many fans were hoping Chris Ballard would bring the third-year man back to the practice squad, but those plans fell through when Land decided to return to Dallas, the team that initially took a chance on the UDFA. He joined the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad on Thursday.
It may be hard to miss a player who played barely 100 defensive snaps over two seasons in Indy. Land totaled seven tackles as a Colt. His only sack came against Baker Mayfield in a week 12 win over Tampa in 2023. Still, the glimpses he showed over the last two preseasons make this a difficult loss for a team that could use pass-rushing help.
In the end, the Colts chose to keep extra size in the middle of the line over an edge rusher like Land. Shane Steichen had six defensive tackles on his final 53-man roster. The club waived one of them – rookie Tim Smith – after claiming linebacker Chad Muma off waivers, and it appears that Smith may be offered a spot on the practice squad.
It is unknown whether a similar offer was made to Land, but it doesn’t matter at this point. He has returned to the Cowboys to join their practice squad instead.
The Colts struggled to pressure opposing quarterbacks in 2024. Their sack and pressure rates were toward the bottom of the league. They may try blitzing more this season. Gus Bradley rarely dialed up blitzes as defensive coordinator in ’24. New DC Lou Anarumo is not especially blitz-happy either, but he probably will go after the quarterback a little more aggressively.
He will have a healthy Samson Ebukam and powerful rookie JT Tuimoloau helping out this year. Along with starting ends Kwity Paye and Laiatu Latu, they would have formed a pretty big obstacle for Land to overcome.
That was essentially the scenario he faced as a rookie in Dallas, which is what caused Dallas to expose him to the waiver wire despite his obvious pass-rushing skills. Indy pounced at the time.
But things are different in Dallas now. DeMarcus Lawrence is gone, and Micah Parsons’ soap opera is ongoing. Dallas needs pass rushers. Isaiah Land needs a chance.
It may work out best for all involved. If Ebukam and Tuimoloau help rejuvenate Indy’s pass rush, Land will never be missed. But it’s still a dangerous move. NFL teams can never have enough quality pass rushers. Isaiah Land has shown enticing glimpses of that particular talent. But if he is to develop into a serious NFL pass rusher, it appears that it will not be in Indianapolis.