Colts Urged to Poach LB From Eagles Practice Squad
The Shaquille Leonard era has ended with the Indianapolis Colts.
Indianapolis signed linebacker Ronnie Harrison Jr. from the practice squad to replace Leonard on the 53-man roster last Tuesday. But the Bleacher Report NFL staff argued the Colts should acquire another inside linebacker in Brandon Smith from the Philadelphia Eagles.
"The Colts made a change at linebacker, releasing Shaquille Leonard last week," the BR staff wrote. "The veteran wasn't the same after back surgery and was getting passed by E.J. Speed on the depth chart.
"Indy should look into some younger options who could be an answer there, including Brandon Smith. He was our eighth-ranked linebacker and fourth-round draft pick in the 2022 class. Now he's available on the Philadelphia Eagles' practice squad."
To take Smith away from the Eagles, the Colts must sign him to their active roster.
The Carolina Panthers, who fired former Colts head coach Frank Reich on Monday, drafted Smith in the fourth round of the 2022 draft. In 12 games with the Panthers in 2022, he posted 8 combined tackles.
Smith made one start, but he mostly played on special teams for Carolina.
The Panthers waived Smith at the end of the 2023 preseason. He joined the Eagles practice squad on October 12.
The Colts have received excellent linebacker play from Zaire Franklin this season. But besides Franklin, Leonard is the only other Indianapolis linebacker with at least 415 defensive snaps during 2023.
Without Leonard going forward, the aforementioned Speed is expected to see a lot more playing time. But the Colts don't have a lot of experience at linebacker on the depth chart behind Franklin and Speed.
With a 6-5 record, the Colts possess a playoff spot entering Week 13. That could make it harder to find a project player such as Smith playing time.
But if a roster spot becomes available down the stretch, it would make sense for the Colts to take a chance on Smith.
