The Indianapolis Colts made running back Ulysses Bentley IV part of their final roster cuts ahead of the 2026 season, even though he arguably had a better training camp than a player Indy kept, DJ Giddens, did. Bentley was then re-signed to the practice squad until he was released from that on Tuesday.
To be sure, Bentley could be brought back to the squad and deserves to be. He could also land with another team, and he deserves that too. Given his chance, he could probably pick up valuable reps in real games, and he just needs the opportunity.
Also, the Colts have an eye on great-named players. Ulysses Bentley IV sounds like an aristocrat, but one who would eschew his wealth to have a beer (or tea) with the common people. Newly acquired Sedrick Van Pran-Granger seems like a character from a Washington Irving novel. Wasn't he in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow? (Not really.)
Indianapolis Colts release Ulysses Bentley IV from the practice squad
More importantly, while Bentley wasn't on the active roster, he could have been elevated as needed on game days and been a serviceable back. The Colts kept Jonathan Taylor (of course), surprisingly good rookie Seth McGowan, and DJ Giddens. General manager Chris Ballard seems to think Giddens could be good on special teams, but that remains to be proven.
Bentley was released from the practice squad (again, he could be re-signed at some point) to make room for running back Davon Booth and guard Reid Holskey. Booth signed with the Cleveland Browns after being undrafted this year and is 5'8" and 195 pounds. Holskey has been with several teams since being undrafted last year.
Basically, Ballard made the decision that Booth might eventually help the team more than Bentley, which seems somewhat ridiculous. He knows what he can get from the former Colts running back, and he might find that Booth isn't the fit he thinks he is.
The hope is that no other team picks up Bentley on their practice squad before Indianapolis has a chance to change its mind, though that is likely. Another team might even eventually decide that Bentley is worthy of being kept on the active roster.
He should have been so when the Indianapolis Colts made their roster cuts this season, and he would have been a better choice than Giddens. But fans know better than to trust Ballard with choices on players who will be depth pieces. He's failed at those decisions since 2017.
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