INDIANAPOLIS – Help is on the way for the Indianapolis Colts’ offensive line.
Center Ryan Kelly has been added to the active roster for Sunday’s meeting with the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium. A similar move was made with rookie linebacker Jaylon Carlies. Both had been on the injured reserve list but recently had resumed practice.
The Colts also elevated guard Mark Glowinski and cornerback Tre Flowers to the active roster from the practice squad, waived safety Darren Hall and ruled out cornerback JuJu Brents (knee).
Kelly’s activation likely means the four-time Pro Bowl selection rejoins a struggling offensive line. His return also means the unit will feature an eighth different starting combination.
Kelly is the longest-tenured Colt – a 2016 first-round pick – and in the final year of his four-year, $49.65 million extension that makes him one of the NFL’s highest-paid players at his position.
He’ll be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. Kelly realizes the final three games of the season might be his final three in Indy.
“You play every single play like it’s your last, every game like it’s your last,’’ he said this week. “You push to the very end and see what happens.’’
Kelly has started 121 games, including the playoffs. He’s missed the past five games after undergoing knee surgery. He missed two games earlier this season with a neck injury.
Injuries have pecked away at the offensive line’s effectiveness.
Guard Will Fries suffered a season-ending broken leg in week 5 and left tackle Bernhard Raimann has missed three games with a concussion and knee injury.
Right tackle Braden Smith has missed the past two games and is out for the season after being placed on the NFL’s reserve/non-football illness list.
Also, rookie Tanor Bortolini, who started five games in place of Kelly, has missed one game with a concussion.
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.
