Colts Release RB, Elevate Another From Practice Squad for Week 3

The Indianapolis Colts reportedly released running back Deon Jackson and elevated Trey Sermon from the practice squad for Week 3.

The Indianapolis Colts are making a change to their roster at running back ahead of Week 3.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported the Colts are releasing running back Deon Jackson. Fellow running back Trey Sermon, who the Colts are elevating from their practice squad for Sunday, will take his place in Week 3.

The #Colts are releasing RB Deon Jackson, source said, and bringing up RB Trey Sermon from the practice squad for the week. Jackson started Week 1 amid injuries.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 23, 2023

Jackson joined the Colts as an undrafted rookie from Duke in 2021. He made the team, appearing in nine games that season.

Although he scored a rushing touchdown as a rookie, Jackson mostly played on special teams in 2021.

Last season, he received an opportunity to start when Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines were both injured. Jackson posted 236 rushing yards and a touchdown along with 30 receptions for 209 yards and another score in 16 games.

But Jackson averaged only 3.5 yards per carry. Then when he started in Week 1 this year, he posted just 14 rushing yards on 13 attempts (1.1 yards per rush).

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In Week 2, Zack Moss returned healthy and starred, rushing for 88 yards and a touchdown. With Moss back in the lineup, the Colts are taking Week 3 as an opportunity to make a change to their running back depth.

Sermon was part of the same draft class as Jackson, but draft experts considered Sermon a much better prospect. The San Francisco 49ers selected Sermon at No. 88 overall in the third round.

He rushed for 167 yards and a touchdown as a rookie in 2021, but the 49ers waived him prior to the 2022 season. 

Sermon then joined the Philadelphia Eagles roster, but he appeared in just two games last year. Philadelphia released him as part of their final roster cuts this past August. 

He promptly joined the Colts practice squad a few days later.

The 24-year-old could see a significant role in his Colts debut against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. Sermon and fellow journeyman running back Jake Funk are the only other two running backs on Indianapolis' roster besides Moss.

The Colts will also be starting backup quarterback Gardner Minshew. Rookie starting signal caller Anthony Richardson is out with a concussion.

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