The Colts have also released offensive lineman Trai Essex. Essex, who had only been with the team for two weeks, had been forced into the starting lineup due to injury. Essex had not been a superstar in the last two games, but had not been a sub-par performer either. Of the many injuries and holes opening up on this young team early in the season, the offensive line seems to need the most help. The loss of Essex could prove detrimental in the long run.

To fill up the roster spots left open by releasing Essex and the season-ending injury to wide out Austin Collie, the Colts have added to more players. The Colts brought in rookie wide out Nathan Palmer from the practice squad of the San Fransisco 49ers, and also signed veteran cornerback Darius Butler. Butler, in his fourth NFL season, has appeared in 42 games with the New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers. Although Palmer may be just an insurance policy for a strong stable of Colts wide receivers, Butler may see the field soon, as the Colts wait to hear back on injury concerns to starting cornerback Vontae Davis.

The Colts signed offensive tackle Bradley Sowell from the Tampa Bay practice squad. Sowell, an undrafted rookie, had 36 starts at the University of Mississippi. Sowell was an important part of the Ole Miss 2009 offensive line who helped block for Dexter McCluster’s 1,169-yard outing that season, which was the second-highest yardage total in the school’s history. At 6ft 7in and 320lbs, Sowell finds himself as not only the newest, but also the largest member of the Colts’ offensive line.

Before signing Sowell, the Colts also added veteran right guard (and Ft. Wayne, Indiana native) Trai Essex to the team. Essex, in his eight season as a pro, was recently wavied by the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers made three Super Bowl appearances while Essex was on the team, winning two titles. Essex was one of only 21 players who were part of both title runs.

Essex spent four of his seasons with the Steelers under offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, who is now with the Colts. The familiarity of Essex with the Arians offense could push him up the depth chart right away. Essex may even be on the field this Sunday, when the Colts have their first home game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Two additions to the offensive line this early in the season is both welcome and worrisome. Adding talent and depth is never a bad thing, but the need to add this kind of talent and depth after only one game is a sign that the Colts aren’t feeling too confident about this spot on the roster, which has had its troubles since the preseason. Hopefully, these two players can gel with and help out an offensive line that needs to be as good as possible, if the Colts expect to keep rookie quarterback Andrew Luck from running for his life all season.