Germaine Pratt spent part of the summer coaching linebackers instead of playing. The veteran, re-signed to the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad on Tuesday, took the field Wednesday for his first practice of the 2026 season and said his job is to bring order to a linebacker room the Colts have been rotating.
“Helping the defense, just being in this system for so long, that’s all I know,” Pratt said. “So help it stabilize and settle it down, make tackles, whatever the case may be, get some turnovers.”
Back in Anarumo’s defense
Pratt, 30, has played all but four of his 112 NFL games for defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, first in Cincinnati from 2019 to 2024 and then in Indianapolis last season. He joined the Colts in October 2025 after his release by the Las Vegas Raiders and started 12 games, finishing with 101 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble.
He went unsigned through the summer, spent time as a volunteer linebackers coach at his alma mater, North Carolina State, and had a tryout with the Dallas Cowboys without signing. Head coach Shane Steichen called him “a veteran presence.” “He’s played a lot of football in this league, made a lot of plays, and any time you can add good players to your roster, you want to do that,” Steichen said.
The need is clear. With starting WILL linebacker Jaylon Carlies out with a rib injury in Week 5, the Colts split snaps between Akeem Davis-Gaither, Austin Ajiake, CJ Allen and Bryce Boettcher. Pratt would have to be elevated from the practice squad to play Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. “I don’t know the plan,” he said. “I’ll be ready when the opportunity comes.” The Colts also promoted tight end Pharaoh Brown to the 53-man roster on Tuesday.
Jones and Slayton full, Dulin still out
Quarterback Daniel Jones (ankle) and tight end Will Mallory (thumb) were full participants Wednesday, and receiver Darius Slayton returned as a full participant after missing Sunday’s 34-22 loss in Pittsburgh with a knee injury.
Receiver Ashton Dulin (hamstring), Carlies and right tackle Jalen Travis (ankle) did not practice. Travis was hurt in the fourth quarter against the Steelers but returned to that game. Keenan Allen and cornerback Charvarius Ward Sr. sat out on veteran rest days, Jonathan Taylor was limited for rest, and Josh Downs was limited with rest and a hamstring injury. Right guard Matt Goncalves and defensive end JT Tuimoloau were limited while going through concussion evaluations.
The Colts host the 0-5 Titans on Sunday, needing a cleaner day in the red zone after settling for five field goals in Pittsburgh.
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