The Colts re-signed Kareem on Monday.
Kareem is now slated to remain with the Colts for at least the 2023 campaign after he signed a new deal with the team. The 24-year-old joined Indianapolis from the Bengals back in November and served as both a rotational defensive lineman as well as a special-teams contributor across the final four weeks of this past season.
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Chiefs' Byron Cowart: Finds work in Kansas City
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Cowart signed a contract with the Chiefs on Friday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Cowart is now slated to join the reigning Super Bowl champs this upcoming season following Friday's agreement. The 26-year-old spent this previous campaign operating as both a rotational defensive lineman and as a special-teams contributor as a member of the Colts.
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Colts' Tony Brown: Returns to Indy
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Brown re-signed with the Colts on a one-year, $1.2 million deal Wednesday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Brown became a stalwart on the Colts' special teams unit, logging 300 total snaps in 2022. He also recorded seven total tackles and one sack. If needed, Brown can also serve as depth in the secondary.
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Cowboys' Stephon Gilmore: Going to Dallas
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The Colts are in line to trade Gilmore (wrist) to the Cowboys for a 2023 fifth-round compensatory pick, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Although Gilmore -- who should be past the wrist injury that sidelined him in Week 18 last season -- is no longer the shutdown corner he was a few years ago, he's still excellent in coverage. He should immediately step in as a starter across from Trevon Diggs, giving the Cowboys an excellent pair of outside corners. Gilmore will benefit from the pressure that Micah Parsons and the Dallas defense can put on opposing quarterbacks, as it should lower the amount of time he's in coverage. That level of pressure is a luxury Gilmore didn't have in 2022 while playing with the Colts.
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Colts' E.J. Speed: Staying put for two more years
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Speed agreed on a two-year contract to remain with the Colts on Monday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Indianpolis' fifth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft has steadily increased his production every season, and Speed set a career high with 63 tackles in 2022 while also notching the first sack of his career. Speed will likely be slated for a similar part-time role on the Indianapolis defense in 2023.
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Raiders' Brandon Facyson: Heading to Las Vegas
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Facyson and the Raiders agreed to terms on a contract Monday, Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.
Facyson played in a rotational role at cornerback for the Colts last season, recording 28 tackles (26 solo) over the course of 16 games. Coming to Las Vegas, its likely the 28-year-old will continue to serve as a depth option as a member of the Raiders' defensive backfield.
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Giants' Bobby Okereke: Lands in New York
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Okereke is expected to sign a four-year, $40 million deal with the Giants, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Okereke will also get $22 million in guaranteed money. His tackle total increased in each of his years with the Colts, and last year, he recorded 151 stops. Although he was listed as a weak-side linebacker in Indianapolis, his exact position with New York is unclear. However, expect New York to use his speed to weaponize him as a tackler. He should be a high-end IDP option on his new team.
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Colts' Tyquan Lewis: Lands another deal with Indy
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The Colts signed Lewis (knee) to a one-year, $2.1 million contract Sunday, Joel A. Erickson of The Indianapolis Star reports.
Lewis will stick with the Colts for a sixth season heading into his age-28 campaign in 2023. The 277-pound defensive end previously re-signed with Indianapolis on a one-year, $3 million deal heading into this past season. However, he sustained a season-ending torn patellar tendon in his left knee during Week 8, limiting him to just 14 tackles, one sack and two passes defended over seven appearances. This also marked the second year in a row that Lewis suffered a season-ending knee injury, but he's been a regular rotational player on the Colts' defensive front when healthy.
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Colts' Yannick Ngakoue: Paces Indy in sacks
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Ngakoue (neck) posted 29 tackles (18 solo), including 9.5 sacks, over 15 games before finishing the 2022 season on IR.
Ngakoue provided solid returns for the Colts after he was acquired via trade from Las Vegas last offseason. The 27-year-old pass-rushing specialist dealt with a nagging back injury to begin the season, though he still finished with a team high in sacks despite also missing the last two regular-season games on injured reserve with a throat injury. The 2017 Pro Bowler has now accumulated 65 sacks over seven seasons in the NFL. This campaign also completed a two-year, $26 million deal that Ngakoue originally penned with the Raiders, so he'll become an unrestricted free agent unless the Colts work out a new deal with him this offseason.
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Colts' Rodney McLeod: Posts career highs in 2022
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Over 17 appearances, McLeod logged 96 tackles (59 solo) and eight passes defended, including two interceptions, as well as a fumble recovery during the 2022 campaign.
McLeod emerged into a starting role three games into his first year with the Colts. The 32-year-old safety, who spent the previous six seasons with Philadelphia, also appeared in every regular-season contest for the first time since the 2019 campaign. As a result, he posted career highs in tackles and passes defended to go along with the third pick-six of his career. McLeod played on a one-year, $1.77 million contract with Indianapolis this season, so he's now set to become an unrestricted free agent again this offseason.
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Colts' DeForest Buckner: Posts another prolific campaign
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Over 17 games, Buckner accumulated a career-high 74 tackles (44 solo), including eight sacks, as well as three passes defended and one fumble recovery in the 2022 season.
Buckner continued his dominant form on the interior of the Colts' defensive front, as he finished sixth among the league's defensive tackles in sacks this season. The 28-year-old also topped his previous personal best for tackles in a season from his 2018 rookie campaign with San Francisco. Buckner also maintained his extremely consistent durability, as he's missed just one regular-season game since his rookie season. The seventh-year pro is now set to make $40 million over the final two remaining seasons of his current contract with Indianapolis.
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Colts' Zaire Franklin: Sets franchise record in 2022
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Franklin (ankle) tallied a career-high 167 tackles (102 solo), three sacks and six passes defended over 17 games in the 2022 season.
Franklin more than quadrupled his previous career high for tackles while stepping up in place of star linebacker Shaquille Leonard (neck/back) this season. The 26-year-old Franklin did exit with a groin injury during the Week 18 loss to Houston, though he was able to return and record four more tackles before the end of this contest, according to Andrew Walker of the Colts' official site. As a result, the 2019 seventh-round pick set the new franchise record for tackles in a single season, breaking the previous record set by Leonard in 2018. With fellow linebacker and Indianapolis' second-leading tackler Bobby Okereke (151) set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, Franklin could be in store for another prominent role alongside Leonard during the 2023 campaign.
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Colts' Bobby Okereke: Notches 151 tackles in 2022
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Okereke recorded a career-high 151 tackles (99 solo), five passes defended and two fumble recoveries while playing all 17 games in the 2022 season.
Okereke had more responsibility this regular season with star linebacker Shaquille Leonard (neck/back) sidelined for all but three games. As a result, the 26-year-old Okereke logged his most productive season as a tackler, including five games with double-digit stops. While the 225-pound linebacker did stack up the 10th-most tackles in the league this season, he still finished as the Colts' second-leading tackler behind Zaire Franklin (167). Nevertheless, this career-best campaign should set up Okereke for a solid payday, as he's slated to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
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Colts' Zaire Franklin: Leaves with injury Sunday
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Franklin (ankle) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Texans, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Franklin has already logged four tackles during Sunday's regular-season finale, though his return for the remainder of the second half is now up in the air. The 26-year-old has played nearly every defensive snap for Indianapolis this season. In his stead, E.J. Speed will likely take on a bigger role alongside Bobby Okereke for the time being.
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Colts' Stephon Gilmore: Inactive for season finale
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Gilmore (wrist) is inactive for Sunday's matchup against the Texans.
Gilmore didn't practice Wednesday through Friday due to a wrist injury, but he still had a chance to suit up after drawing a questionable tag. However, the veteran quarterback will ultimately be sidelined for the Colts' season finale, marking his first absence of the campaign. Gilmore will finish his first season in Indianapolis with 66 tackles, 11 pass defenses and two interceptions across 16 appearances.
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Colts' Brandon Facyson: Officially active for Week 18
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Facyson (concussion) is active for Sunday's matchup against the Texans.
Facyson left Week 17 with a concussion, but after not practicing Wednesday, he logged a limited session Thursday and was full go Friday. He was still listed as questionable for Week 18, but he's since cleared concussion protocol and will be available for the Colts' season finale. Facyson could see an expanded role with Stephon Gilmore (wrist) inactive and Kenny Moore (ankle) on injured reserve.
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Colts' Brandon Facyson: Unavailable for Week 18
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Facyson (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's game versus the Texans.
Facyson exited last Sunday's loss to the Giants with a concussion, leaving him sidelined during the Colts' practice Wednesday. The 28-year-old was able to increase his practice activity on back-to-back days en route to a full session Friday, though he'll still sit out the team's inconsequential regular-season finale. Facyson has played a rotational role on defense across 15 games this season, so his absence should leave Tony Brown and Darrell Baker to step up into bigger roles behind Dallis Flowers and Stephon Gilmore (wrist), the latter of whom is still questionable to play Week 18.
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Colts' Stephon Gilmore: Officially questionable for Week 18
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Gilmore (wrist) is questionable for Sunday's matchup against the Texans.
Gilmore didn't practice Wednesday through Friday due to a wrist injury but will still have a chance to suit up for the Colts' season finale. The veteran cornerback has yet to miss a game this season, totaling 66 tackles, 11 pass defenses and two interceptions across 16 appearances.
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Colts' Kenny Moore: Moves to IR
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The Colts placed Moore (ankle) on injured reserve Wednesday.
Moore, who hasn't suited up since Week 12 due to a lingering right ankle injury, will remain out for the final game of the Colts' 2022 campaign. The move to IR is simply transactional and opens up an extra roster spot for Week 18. Moore will finish his sixth season in Indianapolis with 65 stops, four pass defenses and one sack in 12 appearances.
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Colts' Rodney Thomas: Seven stops in blowout loss
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Thomas recorded seven tackles (six solo) in Sunday's 38-10 defeat to the Giants.
Thomas matched his season high for tackles while playing all but six of the Colts' 63 defensive snaps Week 18. The rookie seventh-round pick has played in a very prominent role in the team's secondary with nickel cornerback Kenny Moore (ankle) sidelined over the past four games. As a result, Thomas has recorded 20 tackles and three passes defended, including two interceptions, over this span. He should have a chance to continue adding to this strong end to his rookie season Week 18 against Houston.
