Germaine Pratt returns to the Colts practice squad

Pratt sat unsigned for 7 months after hitting free agency in March. Then Indy's linebackers had 5 bad weeks and his phone rang.

Tom Pelissero

@TomPelissero

Veteran LB Germaine Pratt has re-signed with Colts, per source. They’ll start him on the practice squad.

He'll start on the practice squad, not the active roster, but nobody around the team is reading this as a depth signing. Mike Chappell, who covers the Colts, put it bluntly right after the news broke.

Mike Chappell

@mchappell51

This reflects the team’s dissatisfaction with its LB room.

Tom Pelissero@TomPelissero

Veteran LB Germaine Pratt has re-signed with Colts, per source. They’ll start him on the practice squad.

That's not a hot take from someone on the outside. Indy's linebacker play has been inconsistent and poor through 5 weeks, with Akeem Davis-Gaither at MIKE and a rotation of Jaylon Carlies, Bryce Boettcher, Austin Ajiake and rookie CJ Allen behind him. The defense got exposed in the 34-22 loss to the Steelers, and Indy is 2-3 as a result. When your fix in October is a 30-year-old who spent the whole fall at home, you're telling everyone what you think of your room.

Of course, this exact thing happened a year ago, which is why Chappell called it deja vu. Pratt opened 2025 with the Raiders, got cut in early October and was starting for Indianapolis within days.

Mike Chappell

@mchappell51

Colts signed Pratt Oct. 8, 2025 and he started Oct. 12 vs. Arizona. He had started first 4 games with Raiders and was inactive in week 5 before being released and signing w/Indy. Playing this week would depend on what type of shape he's in.

Mike Chappell@mchappell51

This reflects the team’s dissatisfaction with its LB room.

He was good when he got there. Pratt started all 12 games he played for the Colts in 2025 and put up 101 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 8 passes defended, an interception, a forced fumble and 2 fumble recoveries. The bigger reason he keeps landing in Indy is Lou Anarumo. Pratt spent his first 6 NFL seasons in Cincinnati, 2019 through 2024, which are the same 6 seasons Anarumo ran the Bengals defense. Anarumo is now the Colts' defensive coordinator, and Pratt already knows every call in the system. Practice squad or not, he walks in ready to play.

The other half of Tuesday's moves was Pharaoh Brown. The 32-year-old tight end spent this whole season on Indy's practice squad and now joins Tyler Warren, Mo Alie-Cox and Drew Ogletree on the active roster. He's started 56 of his 94 career games across 7 teams, and he's basically there to block.

What matters now is whether Pratt suits up this week. Chappell says that depends on what kind of shape he's in, and a guy who's been off since last season probably needs a week or 2 to get there. If he gets elevated soon, though, assume he walks right back into the starting job he held last fall. Anarumo didn't call him to hold a clipboard.