The Indianapolis Colts announced on Monday that the team signed former UFL St. Louis Battlehawks (and Carolina Panthers) center Mike Panasiuk, as well as linebacker Mike Smith Jr. Panasiuk’s signing was first reported by ML Football on Sunday.
The Colts waived-injured offensive guard Josh Sills and placed center Ryan Coll on injured reserve for corresponding roster moves.
The biggest news of all the announced roster moves was that the Colts have removed defensive tackle Raekwon Davis (high blood pressure) from the non-football injury list.
He had missed all of training camp and preseason with the medical issue, after signing a 2-year, $14 million deal with Indianapolis earlier this offseason as a free agent.
However, the massive 6’7,” 325 pound defensive tackle should now be able to practice immediately and should provide an valuable key rotational defensive 1T—particularly as a run stuffer occasionally spelling starting nose Grover Stewart.
Sills did not perform well on Saturday night and later was ruled out with an ankle injury. With rookie offensive guard/center Tanor Bortolini also suffering a toe injury, and the Colts became increasingly short-handed along the interior with joint practices and Thursday’s preseason finale against the Cincinnati Bengals this week. That may have expedited the waiving of Sills (injured) and also placing Coll (reportedly a season-ending shoulder injury) on injured reserve—while signing Panasiuk thereafter. If Sills clears waivers, he will revert to the Colts injured reserve list.
Regarding Smith Jr. (via Colts.com):
“Smith Jr., 6-1, 231 pounds, saw action in five games at Baylor in 2023 and finished with 25 tackles (18 solo), 3.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack and one pass defensed. He started all 12 games at Liberty in 2022 and led the team with 85 tackles (45 solo). Smith Jr. also added 10.0 tackles for loss, half a sack, five passes defensed, one interception and three forced fumbles. Prior to Liberty, he spent three seasons at Mississippi Gulf Coast (2019-21), where he was named First Team All-MACCC South. Smith Jr. compiled 248 tackles, 19.0 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks, two interceptions, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.”
Both Panasiuk and Smith Jr. likely face a very remote chance of making the Colts active 53-man roster given the late timing of their additions. That being said, having an opportunity and the exposure to play in a preseason game and have quality film for NFL scouts is better than no such opportunity. Hopefully, both young players can make the most of it.
