The Colts announced on Wednesday that they signed defensive end Levi Bell and waived offensive lineman Lewis Kidd.
With Samson Ebukam suffering a season-ending Achilles injury, Titus Leo being carted off during Tuesday’s practice with what Shane Steichen called a knee injury–we still do not know the extent of the injury–and Dayo Odeyingbo sidelined the last two practices with a calf injury, the Colts were in need of some defensive end depth.
The 6-1 – 275 pound Bell is an excellent athlete, posting an elite RAS of 9.55 and went undrafted in 2023 out of Texas State. In his final season, he recorded 41 pressures, six sacks, and was versatile, playing multiple positions along the defensive front, and even took some snaps on offense at fullback, according to PFF.
Following the 2023 draft, Bell originally signed with Baltimore but was released and signed by Seattle, where he appeared in all three preseason games last summer. This spring, he played in the UFL with the Michigan Panthers.
Making the roster will be an uphill battle for Bell. More than likely, he provides needed depth at defensive end for training camp and will try to earn a spot on the practice squad.
To make room for Bell on the roster, the Colts waived Kidd. After being released by New Orleans during roster cutdowns last summer, Kidd was signed to the Colts’ practice squad, where he spent most of the season.
He did not see any snaps in 2023 and was released in mid-December. The Colts then signed him to a futures deal this past January.
Kidd has played 78 snaps in his career, all of which came in 2022 with the Saints as the left guard. With the additions of Tanor Bortolini and Matt Goncalves in the draft, along with returning all five starters, the Colts’ offensive line room has gotten fairly crowded.