The Indianapolis Colts signed veteran defensive end Carl Lawson to their practice squad on Wednesday, moving to reinforce a front line that has yielded 423.8 yards per game through the opening month of the NFL season. PenseBet reported the roster transaction, which required the team to release tight end Kenny Fletcher Jr. to clear a spot on the practice squad.
Roster Shuffle Ahead of Week 5
Lawson, 31, worked out for Indianapolis on September 23 before earning this week’s contract offer. Over an eight-season NFL career, he has appeared in 90 regular-season games with 34 starts, accumulating 32 sacks and 32 tackles for loss. The addition arrives as Indianapolis manages depth concerns at defensive end, where Arden Key faces an absence due to injury and Micheal Clemons resides on injured reserve. Lawson spent last season with the Baltimore Ravens, appearing in a single game and logging 26 total snaps across regular-season action.
To accommodate Lawson’s arrival, Indianapolis released 22-year-old tight end Kenny Fletcher Jr. An undrafted rookie out of Rutgers in April, Fletcher spent the training camp period with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before signing to the Colts’ practice squad on September 8.
Familiar Faces on the Defensive Staff
Lawson’s integration into Indianapolis features an established coaching connection. During his most productive professional season in 2020 with the Cincinnati Bengals, when he recorded 64 quarterback pressures, the team’s defensive coordinator was Lou Anarumo. Anarumo now holds the defensive coordinator position with the Colts, having also overseen Lawson’s play in Cincinnati during the 2019 campaign.
Selected in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft by Cincinnati, Lawson spent his first four professional seasons with the Bengals through 2020. He subsequently signed with the New York Jets in 2021—missing that entire campaign due to a torn Achilles tendon—before playing for the Jets through 2023, joining the Dallas Cowboys in 2024, and appearing for Baltimore in 2025. Across his career, Lawson has registered 135 total tackles, 32 sacks, four forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.
Colts Defense Struggles Before Matchup with Steelers
Indianapolis enters Week 5 carrying a 2-2 record. PenseBet noted that the Colts’ defense ranks 31st in the league through four weeks, permitting 423.8 yards per contest. Nothing in the team’s initial announcement indicated whether Lawson will be promoted to the active roster in time for Sunday’s matchup.
The Colts travel to face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Pittsburgh shares an identical 2-2 record heading into the Week 5 contest.
