To replace the spot left open by Edds, the Colts have made a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, to pick up linebackers Moise Fokou and Greg Lloyd. In return, the Colts have sent cornerback Kevin Thomas and a seventh-round pick in 2013 to Philadelphia.

Thomas was a third-round pick for the Colts in the 2010 NFL Draft, but missed that entire season due to injury. Thomas has only 32 tackles in his NFL career.

Fokou is a fourth-year veteran that was drafted late by the Eagles in the 2009 NFL Draft. Fokou spent most of his career making tackles on the defensive side of the ball and leading the Eagles in tackles on special teams, but did go down late last season with an ankle injury. When healthy, Fokou could help the Colts immensly as both a linebacker and special teams defender.

Greg Lloyd Jr. is the son of former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Greg Lloyd Sr. Lloyd, drafted in 2011 by the Eagles, spent much of last season on the practice squad, but was eventually promoted to the main roster. Lloyd has the potential to be molded into a well-rounded pro player if given the opportunity.

These two additions will no doubt help to stock up the Colts at the linebacker position by adding young talent and veteran production, for a team that is starting to look more and more defensive-minded.

It’s been a rough few days for sophomore guard Ben Ijalana.

Just days after being cleared for full practice at training camp, Ijalana tore the same anterior cruciate ligament – the ACL in his right knee – that he injured midway through last season. Ijalana, before playing a single down in 2012, learned that he will miss the entire season and will have to undergo the same grueling rehabilitation process that he endured last year.

To make matters worse, the front office released Ijalana after learning of his injury. Ijalana was placed on waivers Wednesday, making him available to any of the other 31 NFL teams willing to take a chance on him. If he is not claimed, he will be placed on the Colts’ injured reserve list and will (hopefully) try again with the team in 2013.

The Colts selected Ijalana in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft with the 49th over all
pick. Ijalana formerly played for Villanova University, where he started every game since his freshman year. In 2010, Ijalana became the only Football Champion Subdivision (FCS) player to be placed on the Outland Trophy watch list, an award bestowed upon the nation’s best interior lineman. On Ijalana’s draft day, the Colts traded their 53rd and 152nd picks to move up and select him. In the process, he became the highest-drafted Villanova player in 30 years.

Ijalana showed much promise in his first, although abbreviated (due to the lockout), training camp. The tackle-turned-guard was rumored to show more promise than that year’s first round selection, Anthony Castonzo (OT). But injuries plagued the Colts’ entire offensive line in 2011, and Ijalana himself fell peril to his first ACL injury while trying to carry a larger-than-normal burden as a rookie. He injured himself just four games in to the season.

I’ve always been a big fan of Ijalana, not just because of his talent and promise, but also because of his attitude. You can’t teach character, and Ben Ijalana absolutely oozes character (just follow him on Twitter). He is always happy and upbeat. He has the work ethic of Peyton Manning, constantly “pushing” himself to be better. Ordinarily, suffering another injury would be a crushing blow, but Ijalana has taken it all in stride and vows to come back stronger. The front office who released Ijalana is not the same one who drafted him (the Polians), so the lineman may have more to prove when he returns, but I believe he will do it. He is expected to clear waivers, and I hope he does. Long-term, he can be an asset to his team.

Tackle Ty Nsekhe of the Arena Football League was signed to take Ijalana’s roster spot.

Other Colts News This Week

Training camp went on, and many fans and media members came out to get a glimpse of the 2012 new-look Colts. The professor himself – NFL Insider John Clayton – was in attendance, and he shared some his own observations in this short video.

Ijalana’s release was not the only roster move made by the Colts this week. On Thursday, the Colts released linebacker AJ Edds, who, like Ijalana, tore his ACL in practice this week. Edds will also be placed on the team’s IR list if he goes unclaimed. The Colts also traded with Philadelphia for linebackers Moise Fokou and Greg Lloyd. In exchange for the duo, the Colts relinquished cornerback Kevin Thomas and a conditional 7th round pick in the 2013 draft. Fokou is a four-year veteran who tied for second on the Eagles last year in special team tackles. He has played 43 games, starting 22 of them. Conversely, Lloyd was a 7th-round pick of the Eagles in 2011. He formerly played for the University of Connecticut.

Colts camp is in full swing, and #HorseBytes will be back next week with more updates on the team. You can also follow me at @catierae08 for more.

May 4, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts tight ends Coby Fleener (80) and Dwayne Allen (83) run during minicamp at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE

The Colts’ roster is not shaping up to be all that bad right now. Grigson, in my opinion, has done a great job so far, putting together a roster that can be competitive come September. Where my real concern lies however, is in the depth of the team. With one or two injuries to starters, which will inevitably happen, the Colts will very quickly become a team with many glaring holes.

On the offensive side of the ball I have far less concerns. The Quarterback position is in great shape with Drew Stanton in the wings should the worst happen; Andrew Luck fall to injury. Along the O-line and at tailback, I feel the Colts are adequately poised to deal with one or two injuries, although neither unit is exceptional, both are stronger than the prior season, in my view. With the receiving corps, I see the potential for injuries to hurt here the most. At tight end, I am less concerned, but the Colts could do with a veteran to back up Allen and Fleener, of whom I don’t feel we currently have on the roster, however the Colts could decide to keep just two tight ends on the roster this season, and if injury strikes this position, bridge that hurdle when it arises. With the wide receivers, I see many potential struggles should the injury bug bite. If Wayne or Avery goes down, currently the roster does not possess an adequate replacement, I like both Collie and Hilton but both are set to line-up in the slot. This would leave Luck without weapons outside, and make it harder for him to complete passes underneath without Wayne and Avery stretching the field.

Looking at the defensive side of the ball, I feel there is far more concerning issues; most notably with the secondary. The Colts secondary must rank amongst the lowest in the League in terms of high caliber players; mainly at the cornerback position, as both starters at safety are very good football players, especially Antoine Bethea, who I’d rank among the top free safeties in the league. The acquisition of Mike Jenkins (if finalised) would certainly help the Colts secondary, but still should he or Powers get injured, I can’t help but feel the ‘next man up’ mantra just isn’t going to deliver the desired effect, unless unrelenting incompetent play is what their searching for. Cue Jacob Lacey, oh wait, he left in free agency(who cares), so who’s next?  Yeah, that’s right Kevin Thomas. In all fairness to Thomas, he has the potential to grow into a good cover corner, but I can’t help thinking he suited the old Colts better. The Colts blew up the NFL offseason, with their blockbuster trade for superstar corner, Darrelle Revis Cassius Vaughn.  The acquisition of Vaughn showed the Colts are concerned with their talent (or lack of) at corner, and his addition should help tie up the nickel corner position.  With the D-line and linebackers, depth is less of an issue, yet still, the Colts haven’t necessarily got the best personnel on defense for the switch to the 3-4. Yet this season is likely to be a hybrid 3-4 with 4-3 looks, so this more than likely will take a year or two to fully implement.

I love what the Colts have done this offseason, and realistically a team is always going to have a hole or two, here and there. With the Colts previous track record, it is not unusual for the roster to be decimated through injury, remember 2010? Yet with such a young team, and a rookie quarterback at the helm, we need the injury gods on our side, let’s hope the Patriots have been slacking in their prayers to them. With a little bit of luck, pun intended, and a healthy roster, maybe just maybe the Colts can make it back to the postseason as a wildcard. Thats a longshot, yet I still like to err on the side of optimism.