Colts add veteran OLB Akeem Ayers
Akeem Ayers has been well traveled throughout his six-year career. The outside linebacker has played for the Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams. Now Ayers will play for a fourth team.
Mike Chappell of CBS4 in Indianapolis reported on Tuesday that the Colts signed the outside linebacker.
Ayers was cut by Los Angeles last week in one of the team’s more surprising transactions. The former UCLA player was projected to start with the Rams. Ayers has started in 58 games over the course of his career. He started in 11 games with the Rams in 2015. The outside linebacker compiled 47 tackles, forced one fumble and recovered three fumbles last season.
The Rams signed Ayers to a two-year contract heading into 2015. Releasing him will save the team $3.3 million in cap space.
Ayers will add depth to Indy’s linebacker unit. He has shown throughout his career to be a solid contributor.
In other Colts news, the team added undrafted rookie corner Frankie Williams to their practice squad. Williams, out of Purdue, was originally waived by Indianapolis before coming back.
The Colts waived fourth-year corner Neiko Thorpe. Thorde played last season with the Oakland Raiders. He has 53 tackles, seven passes defended and one interception in his career.