Colts Sign Super Bowl Champion Pass Rusher

The Indianapolis Colts signed defensive end Derek Rivers to their practice squad on Thursday.

One day after losing veteran pass rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad to a suspension, the Indianapolis Colts announced adding defensive end Derek Rivers to their practice squad.

We have signed DE Derek Rivers to the practice squad.

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) December 7, 2023

Rivers, who is 29 years old, began his career as a third-round pick of the New England Patriots in 2017. Injuries, though, have slowed down his career significantly.

He has missed three entire seasons (2017, 2019 and 2022) due to various ailments.

After missing his entire rookie season with a torn ACL, Rivers played in seven contests including the postseason in 2018. The Patriots capped off that season with a 13-3 victory against the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl.

But Rivers again didn't play at all in 2019 because of a knee injury he suffered during the preseason. New England then waived him in November of 2020.

Ironically, he joined the Rams for the rest of that season.

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Rivers spent the 2021 season with the Houston Texans. He played five games, making one start.

He last played in an NFL game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on December 19, 2021. Rivers missed the entire 2022 season because of a torn biceps tendon.

Rivers has spent most of 2023 on the Texans practice squad. But the team released him on November 1.

It was the third time Houston released Rivers since the start of the regular season.

In 24 career NFL games, Rivers has posted 3.5 sacks, 16 combined tackles, 5 tackles for loss and 7 quarterback hits. He posted a career-high 9 combined tackles, including 7 solos in 2021.

The Colts are signing Rivers as a replacement for Muhammad, who received a six-game suspension on Wednesday for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy.

Muhammad hasn't played for the Colts in 2023, but he was a crucial piece of the team's practice squad. He won't be able to return this season unless the Colts play two playoff games.

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