COLTS

Oft-injured Donald Thomas among first wave of Colts cuts

Stephen Holder
IndyStar

It was always going to be a long road back for Donald Thomas.

For the time being, that road has come to an end.

Thomas, signed by the Colts to a four-year contract in 2013 to be a key piece of the Colts' offensive line, was released by the team today. The veteran guard last played in a game for the Colts on September 15, 2013.

Thomas was activated Friday from the physically unable to perform list. That would have allowed him to practice with the Colts and begin his road back from two consecutive torn quad muscles that kept him on injured reserve for 30 of a 32 games the past two seasons.

As it turns out, it was just a precursor to today's move.

Thomas had been working toward a return, but several concerns likely prevented a comeback. Among them, the Colts had not been able to evaluate Thomas on the field and he likely was not going to be able to play in the preseason. Thomas' future durability also remained a major question for the Colts.

Even so, this was not an easy call.

"It’s tough to cut anybody," coach Chuck Pagano said. "That’s the harsh reality of the business. He’s had a tough two years. Back-to-back season-ending injuries is tough. So, we had to make a lot of tough decisions

"We did what we thought was best for the organization. He’s been on a long, tough journey."

There are financial implications to this move.

Thomas was scheduled to count $3.75 million against the salary cap this season, including a base salary of $3.5 million. Both sums are now off the books for the Colts (though there will be $500,000 in "dead money" remaining on the cap next year).

The move to cut Thomas comes a month after the Colts released offensive tackle Gosder Cherilus. Both were major pieces of the 2013 free-agent class and expected to be mainstays on the offensive line. Instead, neither remains on the roster after injuries impacted their stints in Indianapolis. And that fact has everything to do with the current instability on the Colts' offensive line.

The Colts cut their roster to 75 players, which is required by Tuesday. Here are the other cuts: Guard Harland Gunn, inside linebacker, Nicklas Haag, outside linebacker Zack Hodges, offensive tackle Tyler Hoover, receiver Ryan Lankford, defensive tackle Jeris Pendleton, receiver Ezell Ruffin, inside linebacker Justin Shirk, tight end Justin Sinz, running back Abou Toure and center Brandon Vitabile.

Additionally, cornerback Tevin Mitchel was placed on injured reserve and cornerbacks Donald Celiscar and Deveron Carr were waived-injured. If Celiscar and Carr clears waivers, they will revert to the Colts' injured reserve list.