Desperate to find the right combinations, the Indianapolis Colts made several changes to their defense on Thursday.
Indianapolis announced that the team has signed linebacker Chris Carter and promoted cornerback Frankie Williams from their practice squad. This comes one week after the Colts released cornerback Antonio Cromartie and linebacker Sio Moore while activating defensive tackle Arthur Jones.
The Pittsburgh Steelers originally selected Carter with the 162nd overall pick in the fifth-round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played 29 games with the Steelers over three years before getting released prior to the 2014 season. Carter made 16 total tackles in those 29 games, including four starts.
He moved on to several teams from there, playing for both the Cincinnati Bengals and Colts in 2014 and then the Bengals and Baltimore Ravens in 2015. Carter dressed for Baltimore in the first five weeks this season, but the team cut him on Wednesday in order to claim guard Billy Turner off waivers.
Williams signed with the Colts as an undrafted free agent in the offseason and returned to the practice squad after being released in the initial cut to 53 players. He played four years at Purdue, recording 227 total tackles, including 5.5 for loss, 1.5 sacks and 10 interceptions. During his senior season, he had seven pass defenses, three picks, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble.
Indianapolis waived linebacker Trevor Bates and tackle Jeremy Vujnovich in corresponding roster moves to make room for the tandem of Carter and Williams. The Colts are ranked 30th in the NFL in total defense and 31st in scoring defense through five weeks.
