The Indianapolis Colts have been busy at training camp, and the biggest story by far has been the competition at quarterback. However, quarterback is far from the only position still to be decided, and so far, reports out of training camp have been largely positive. Still, it was only inevitable that cuts would be coming, and the first one was fairly unexpected.
Last season, the Colts had one of the worst defenses in the league, and the offseason saw serious efforts taken to change that. They brought in a new defensive coordinator - Lou Anarumo - and, in an out-of-character move for the notoriously stingy Chris Ballard, signed several free agents.
The signings of Cam Bynum, Charvarius Ward, and Corey Ballentine were applauded, as the Colts desperately needed both more star power and more depth on defense.
Indianapolis Colts first cut of training camp wasn't obvious
Ballentine fell into the latter category. The former Green Bay Packers cornerback was specifically brought to Indianapolis to add experience to the cornerback room, with Ballentine reportedly most interested in fighting for the chance to start on special teams. And when it came to cornerback battles, it didn't seem like he would be going anywhere.
But, surprise! The Colts have released Ballentine and signed Chris Lammons instead.
We have signed free agent CB Chris Lammons and have released CB Corey Ballentine.
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) August 1, 2025
This is a surprising development, to say the least. Lammons was a free agent whom the Colts didn't immediately re-sign, and it's not much of a surprise; he wasn't a particularly good player. While he was undoubtedly great at pass rush, he was below average at... everything else.
Bringing back Lammons could make sense in the wake of the latest injury news; the Colts lost both Jaylon Jones and Juju Brents last week, making the need for more depth clear. But that, then, raises the question of why Ballentine would be released.
They had just agreed to a one-year deal worth $482,500 in guaranteed money and $1.337 million for Ballentine, and Ballentine would have provided experience at a position where it is very much needed.
Rookie Justin Walley may have been the wild card that shoved Ballentine out. He's been making a huge splash at training camp, which may have been what ended up making Ballentine irrelevant.