According to head coach Shane Steichen, the Indianapolis Colts are opening the 21-day practice window for backup tight end Will Mallory, who’s coming back from a thumb injury (via FOX59/CBS4’s Mike Chappell):
It means that Mallory will be eligible to be activated off the team’s injured reserve within the next three weeks. If he’s not activated during that same span, he will remain on injured reserve for the remainder of the 2026 season.
The Colts’ 4th-year
tight end suffered the thumb injury during a joint training camp practice against the Atlanta Falcons on August 20th. Mallory did not play in the team’s following two preseason games because of the injury.
He was later placed on injured reserve with a designation to return as part of the Colts’ final 53 man roster cut maneuvers on August 31st.
Indianapolis currently has a crowded tight end room with Tyler Warren, veteran Mo Alie-Cox, and Drew Ogletree, so the Colts would have to carry four tight ends on their 53-man active roster with Mallory’s potential upcoming activation.
The former 2023 5th round pick of the Colts stood out in this year’s preseason opener against the New England Patriots on the road, catching a team-leading 6 receptions for 80 total receiving yards.
He’s not a candidate to be waived and re-signed to the Colts practice squad, as there’d be a serious chance that another NFL team would poach him during that process.
