As NFL teams whittle rosters down to 53, the waiver wire is about to get busy - and the Colts are sitting right in the middle of it.
Indianapolis entered the day with a fresh addition already in the mix, landing backup center Sedrick Van Pran-Granger earlier Sunday morning. Even after that move, the Colts still appear positioned to keep hunting for help, especially at offensive tackle, defensive tackle and cornerback, along with other spots that could draw attention once the cuts start rolling in.
This year’s process is the straightforward one. The league no longer uses the old multi-step cutdown format from recent offseasons; instead, every team makes its final round of releases at once after the preseason ends.
The waiver rules are simple enough, but they matter a lot this week. Players with four or fewer accrued NFL seasons go on waivers when they’re released, which means other teams can claim them based on draft order from the previous season, in reverse.
Those claims have to be in by Monday at 1:00 p.m. ET.
Veterans with four or more accrued seasons don’t go through waivers at all. They hit unrestricted free agency immediately and can sign with any team that wants them.
For Colts fans tracking the market, Indianapolis checks in at 16th in the waiver claim order. That puts the team squarely in the middle of the pack, behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and ahead of the Detroit Lions.
Here’s the full waiver order heading into final 53-man roster cuts:
Las Vegas Raiders
New York Jets
Arizona Cardinals
Tennessee Titans
New York Giants
Cleveland Browns
Washington Commanders
New Orleans Saints
Kansas City Chiefs
Cincinnati Bengals
Miami Dolphins
Dallas Cowboys
Atlanta Falcons
Baltimore Ravens
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Indianapolis Colts
Detroit Lions
Minnesota Vikings
Carolina Panthers
Green Bay Packers
Pittsburgh Steelers
Los Angeles Chargers
Philadelphia Eagles
Jacksonville Jaguars
Chicago Bears
Buffalo Bills
San Francisco 49ers
Houston Texans
Los Angeles Rams
Denver Broncos
New England Patriots
Seattle Seahawks
In Other News...
Colts Change Course Fast After Surprising Backfield Cut
The Colts moved quickly to reshape the bottom of their roster after waiving running back Ulysses Bentley IV during preseason cuts, then releasing him from the practice squad to open spots for a pair of additions. Running back Davon Booth and guard Reid Holskey were both signed to the practice squad as Indianapolis continued sorting out the depth chart behind a roster that already includes Jonathan Taylor, Seth McGowan and DJ Giddens in the backfield.
Booth arrives after a stint with the Browns, while Holskey comes in as a lineman with time spent around several NFL teams. The additions give the Colts some extra flexibility as they keep adjusting the practice squad around needs at running back and guard, where the active roster already features Quenton Nelson, Matt Goncalves, Jalen Farmer and Dalton Tucker. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Still Have Two Big Opener Concerns Before Baltimore
Alec Pierces return to practice is one of the more encouraging signs for the Colts as they keep turning toward their opener against Baltimore. The receiver has been working his way back from offseason ankle surgery, and his availability remains one of the bigger early questions for a team that wants its passing game settled before the games start counting.
General manager Chris Ballard said he is hopeful the injured players can be ready for Week 1, with Pierce and rookie safety A.J. Haulcy among the names to watch. Pierce joined Tyler Warren and Josh Downs on the field, while Haulcy and some others were still out, leaving Indianapolis with a little more optimism than clarity as the final days before kickoff continue to tick away. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Kept A Recent Draft Pick For A Reason
Anthony Gould survived the final roster cut in Indianapolis, and the move fits with the kind of value the Colts have been trying to preserve as they sort out the back end of the roster. The 2024 fifth-round pick out of Oregon State has mostly made his mark as a return specialist, with only limited work on offense so far, but that versatility is part of why the organization kept him in the mix and then brought him back on the practice squad for the 2026 season.
For a Colts team that is trying to climb beyond its recent records and push back into the playoffs with key players returning, keeping a player like Gould around is a small but meaningful decision. He may not be an every-down contributor yet, but the Colts are clearly still interested in what he can offer on special teams and in a depth role as the season develops. [Read more 🡒]