INDIANAPOLIS – The release of receiver/kick returner David Reed on Tuesday has likely opened the door for Chris Rainey to return kicks for the Indianapolis Colts.
Releasing Reed was bound to happen because he was a disaster returning kicks. The Colts are already struggling offensively, and Reed often made it worse by returning kicks from 8 or 9 yards deep in the end zone.
Rainey was inactive against the Arizona Cardinals last weekend, but he’ll likely take over the kick-return role.
Here’s what coach Chuck Pagano said about Rainey, who signed with the team last week, prior to the Arizona game:
“Really everything that we saw on tape when we evaluated him coming out of college and what he did his first year. He’s very explosive for a guy being out for the amount of time that he’s been out. He’s really been amazing, to be honest with you. He’s a great athlete. He’s got tremendous quickness, speed, acceleration, burst, football instincts. Catches everything – punts and kickoffs, catching balls out of the backfield, running the card team, the look team for us. Didn’t miss a beat. It looked like he’d been playing for somebody for the last whatever, so he looked good.”
Here are the other moves the Colts made Tuesday:
Linebacker Josh McNary was added to the active roster from the practice squad.
Tight end Justice Cunningham was released.
Safety Delano Howell was placed on injured reserve.
Free-agent safety Corey Lynch was signed to the active roster.