Boom Herron's injury leads to release from Colts

UPDATE, 3:01 p.m.: The Colts have waived injured running back Boom Herron, the team announced, a move that comes after he suffered a shoulder injury in Thursday night's preseason finale.

Herron was one of five running backs on the roster, but the Colts needed a pair of roster spots after making two waiver claims today (Seahawks defensive tackle T.Y. McGill and Ravens guard Robert Myers). The other release was rookie linebacker Amarlo Herrera, as we reported earlier.

Herron will be subject to the waiver wire, but if he clears, he'll be placed automatically on the Colts' injured reserve list.

The Colts were fortunate from an injury standpoint during training camp, but the preseason has now taken its toll. Asked why Herron was playing in a meaningless game that was set aside mostly for players trying to prove themselves, coach Chuck Pagano referenced the injury to running back Josh Robinson and a need a continue evaluating players like Herron.

"We’re still evaluating everybody," he said Friday. "It’s easy to say, ‘Hey, we know what Boom is.'

"... It’s unfortunate what happened to Boom on the (kickoff) return. That can happen at practice. It can happen at any time. It’s a decision that I made. I’m not going to look back on it, anything like that. It is what it is."

Herron was the top backup to starter Frank Gore and was the team's primary running back during the 2014 playoff run.

Other injuries of note from the preseason include defensive tackle Art Jones' season-ending ankle injury and cornerback Greg Toler's neck injury. Toler is still considered week to week.

UPDATE, 2:36 p.m.: Receiver Duron Carter has cleared waivers and subsequently has re-signed with the Colts as a practice squad player. The Colts want to continue developing Carter, and keeping him on the practice squad will allow for that.

UPDATE, 2:04 p.m.: The Colts have claimed defensive tackle T.Y. McGill from the Seattle Seahawks, his agent confirmed. McGill was released by Seattle on Saturday but turned heads with impressive preseason performances.

McGill has come a long way. He was undrafted out of North Carolina State and was not signed as a priority rookie free agent. He got his opportunity only after a strong performance in Seattle's rookie minicamp in May.

Also today, outside linebacker Daniel Adongo, released on Sunday, will be re-signed to the Colts' practice squad, a source said. That same source indicated rookie linebacker Amarlo Herrera will be released to make room on the 53-man roster for McGill.

EARLIER: The Colts' have trimmed their roster to the 53-man limit, but don't think for a moment that they're done massaging their lineup.

Several possibilities are out there, so here's what you should be looking for today and in the coming days.

A defensive line move

The current line is so young it's scary. Two rookies (David Parry, Henry Anderson), a second year player (Zach Kerr) and a player who last played in a semipro league (Earl Okine) are currently playing alongside solid veteran Kendall Langford.

That's not a lineup that inspires a lot of confidence given the challenges the Colts have had stopping the run, especially against the New England Patriots.

It's highly likely the Colts will make additional moves on the defensive line. The waiver wire is a possibility, but the Colts' 11-5 record last year means they'll have a very low waiver priority. If another team with a higher waiver priority makes a claim ahead of them, the Colts would lose out on that player.

Players who are already free agents might be a more realistic option because the Colts can sign them outright. Stay tuned.

What becomes of Duron Carter?

To be clear, the fact that Carter's name makes an appearance here is not a suggestion he would have been a big contributor this season had he made the team. He would not have. He's still a developmental player and was not going to see much playing time.

But as someone who saw this young receiver dominate practice, at times, during training camp, it's hard not to be intrigued. And his success in the Canadian Football League does suggest that he has the potential to blossom in the NFL.

But the Colts waived Carter and now will hope and pray they can sneak him back onto their practice squad. And the truth is, that's going to be tough.

He can be claimed off waivers this afternoon, but we'll see what happens. One thing working in the Colts' favor: Hundreds of players hit the market with Saturday's cuts, so it's hardly a guarantee that Carter will be scooped up.

Who's No. 53?

If the Colts in fact make a move today or in the coming days, they'll have to make room for any additions. And that means someone will have to go.

Looking at the roster, one definite area of surplus is running back. While it's true injuries prompted the move to keep five backs (Frank Gore, Boom Herron, Josh Robinson, Vick Ballard and Tyler Varga), Robinson is expected back this week after suffering a concussion.

If he returns, that gives the Colts three healthy backs while Herron and Ballard deal with their respective injuries. Maybe someone will be let go if the need arises.

Elsewhere, the cornerback unit could be a target for cuts. There currently are six on the roster, though that's mostly because starter Greg Toler seems to be healing slowly from his neck injury. The Colts would have to decide whether they could live with the decreased depth at a key position.

Okine was a bit of a surprise to make the final roster, meaning he's pretty far down on the list of 53 players. But with the lack of depth on the defensive line, with just five players, it just doesn't seem prudent to cut him.