Colts tryout three veteran defensive ends two with significant starting experience
· Yahoo Sports
INDIANAPOLIS — The Colts took a look at a trio of veteran defensive ends on Wednesday.
Indianapolis placed defensive end Micheal Clemons, who had played 38 snaps in the first two games, on injured reserve with a significant toe injury on Monday.
Visit casino-promo.biz for more information.
The Colts initially filled that roster spot by signing wide receiver Darius Slayton to replace an injured Alec Pierce, but the news that Pierce will be placed on injured reserve leaves open a potential addition.
Indianapolis is kicking the tires on a handful of defensive ends with experience, trying out Carl Lawson, David Ojabo and Preston Smith.
Lawson and Smith were both full-time starters in the NFL at one point.
Smith, 34, is an 11-year veteran who spent most of his career as a starter with Washington and Green Bay, racking up 71 career sacks in the process. Smith was a rotational defensive end for Washington last year, producing only a half-sack in 13 games.
Lawson, 31, has been through a lot in his career. Drafted by Cincinnati, Lawson spent four seasons with the Bengals as a rotational rusher, signed a big-money deal with the Jets and has battled injuries off and on for the past five years. Lawson has 32 career sacks and produced five with the Cowboys in 2024, but he spent most of the 2025 season on Baltimore’s practice squad, playing in just one game.
Ojabo is a different type of player. Only 26, Ojabo was drafted in the second round by Baltimore in 2022, a first-round talent who fell after tearing his Achilles at Michigan’s Pro Day. Ojabo spent four seasons with the Ravens, making 4.5 sacks in 32 games, but he was allowed to leave after his rookie deal expired. Ojabo spent the offseason with the Dolphins, but he failed to make Miami’s roster at the end of training camp.
Indianapolis could also increase playing time for rookie defensive ends Caden Curry and George Gumbs Jr. in the wake of Clemons’ injury. Curry has played 10 defensive snaps in two games, and Gumbs has been inactive the first two, but Clemons’ injury opens an opportunity for both rookies to carve out more playing time.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts tryout three veteran defensive ends two with significant starting experience