The Colts made a pair of roster moves Monday morning that closed the door on Cameron Mitchell’s season and brought another cornerback into the mix.
Indianapolis waived-injured Mitchell and signed rookie undrafted free agent Mekhi Rodgers. If Mitchell clears waivers on Tuesday, he will revert to the team’s Injured Reserve list.
Mitchell’s stint with the Colts had been one of the quieter success stories of the past year. He landed on the practice squad in early October after appearing in two games for the Cleveland Browns, then got promoted to the active roster less than a month later. From there, he played in eight games for Indianapolis, logging 225 defensive snaps and another 20 on special teams.
The former fifth-round pick, selected by Cleveland in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Northwestern, had also put himself in the conversation this summer. He turned heads in OTAs and minicamp by breaking up multiple passes, then kept stacking moments in training camp. One of the biggest came when he returned an interception for a touchdown off a tipped Anthony Richardson Sr. pass on the second day of training camp.
That kind of start made Mitchell a dark horse to crack the Colts’ regular-season roster, especially in a crowded cornerback group. Special teams also offered a path, with several prime spots still open.
But the momentum stopped late in last Friday’s practice, when Mitchell had his shoulder checked out. He missed the next two practices on Saturday and Monday.
In his career, Mitchell has appeared in 40 games with five starts. He has 61 tackles, including four for loss, along with 1.0 sack, one QB hit and eight pass breakups.
Rodgers now steps into that opening. The 6-foot-1, 197-pound corner went undrafted this spring after his final college stop at James Madison and had already gotten a look from Indianapolis during rookie minicamp in May.
The Colts brought him back Monday after a workout that also included cornerbacks Ricardo Hallman and Zech McPhearson, plus wide receiver Jakobie Keeney-James.
Rodgers’ college path was a long climb. He began at Division III Hobart College from 2022-23, moved to Saint Francis in 2024 and then finished at JMU in 2025.
In Other News...
Which Colts Rookies Are Already Pushing For Real Roles
Four practices into training camp, the Colts are already getting a better sense of which rookies might have a path to meaningful snaps this season. CJ Allen has settled back into his starting linebacker spot, while the rest of the first-year group has been spread across the depth chart in a way that gives the staff an early look at both immediate competition and longer-term development. AJ Haulcy is the clearest name to watch on the defensive side, as he is in the mix for a starting safety job even if his snap count has been limited so far.
Elsewhere, the rookie group is filling out a range of roles that tell their own story about camp priorities. Jalen Farmer, Bryce Boettcher, George Gumbs, Caden Curry, Seth McGowan and Deion Burks are all working in different spots, with some pressing for backup jobs and others trying to carve out rotational value. It is still early, but the Colts are already sorting through which newcomers can handle more than just developmental reps, and which ones will need more time before they force the issue. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Just Took A Look At A Receiver With Something To Prove
With the Colts still sorting through a receiver room that lacks much in the way of proven depth, Chase Claypool has become the latest name to get a long look. The former Steelers and Bears wideout recently worked out for Indianapolis, adding another veteran option to a group that could use more size and experience as the team keeps evaluating ways to bolster the passing game.
Claypools path back has been a winding one. He attended the Packers' rookie minicamp on a tryout basis in May, and his career has been stalled by injuries ever since his last action in 2023. For Indianapolis, the intrigue is obvious: a player with Claypools background and physical tools can still stand out in a room where opportunity may be easier to find than in some other places. [Read more 🡒]
