The life of an NFL player can be one of eternal hope even in the face of consistent disappointment. For every star Indianapolis Colts player, for instance, there is another clinging to the roster whose future in the NFL is uncertain. Such was the case with one recently released player.
After kicker Michael Badgley missed yet another extra point in Week 13, the team released him. Indy signed three-year veteran Blake Grupe to replace him. But Grupe wasn't signed to the active roster, and instead to the practice squad. This meant another player had to go.
Center Jimmy Morrissey was that player. He had been on the Colts' practice squad since September, but hadn't played a regular season game for the team. He was a seventh-round 2021 NFL draft pick for the Las Vegas Raiders, but was waived before Week 1 of that season and re-signed to Vegas's practice squad.
Indianapolis Colts release Jimmy Morrissey to add Blake Grupe to the practice squad
Morrissey found a home with Indianapolis's AFC South rival, the Houston Texans, for most of three seasons, and got some reps in 2021 after Houston signed Morrissey off the Raiders' practice squad. He played in four games and was decent in his final one against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Before the Week 16 game against LA, Morrissey had given up multiple quarterback pressures in three other games. He gave up zero against the Chargers. That was the last game he would start in his NFL career, at least so far.
The offensive line played in a few games in 2022, one in 2023, and has not played since. He has caught on to a couple of practice squads after being released by the Texans. In 2024, he spent the season with the New York Giants. This year started and might have ended with the Colts.
To be certain, Jimmy Morrissey is a grinder just like most of the rest of us. He wants to do a job well and just needs a chance to demonstrate his productivity. He might no longer be a part of the Indianapolis Colts' roster, unless the team re-signs him at some point, but maybe he will have a chance elsewhere. He deserves that.