Colts place Arden Key on injured reserve as edge-depth plans change

The Colts placed starting defensive end Arden Key on injured reserve Saturday, October 10, after the hamstring injury he suffered in the previous Sunday’s win over Washington. The roster move means he must miss at least four games; Indianapolis has not announced a precise return date.

The transaction supersedes the reported three-to-four-week absence estimate ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler supplied Tuesday. Head coach Shane Steichen had said Monday that Key would miss time, and Friday’s official injury report ruled him out of Sunday’s game against Pittsburgh.

ESPN’s Stephen Holder reported Saturday that Key had played 64 percent of Indianapolis’ defensive snaps. His loss removes a regular part of the edge rotation, while the injured-reserve move makes the immediate availability question definite.

On Wednesday, October 7, the Colts added veteran defensive end Carl Lawson to their practice squad and released tight end Kenny Fletcher Jr. from that group. The team said Lawson has 32 career sacks across 90 games and appeared in one game for Baltimore last season. The signing supplies another option to develop in the rotation; it does not establish that Lawson is on the active game roster or that he will receive Key’s workload.

In the same Saturday roster announcement, Indianapolis elevated wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine from the practice squad for the Pittsburgh game. That was his third elevation of the season, following appearances against Houston and Washington.

Key joined the Colts as a free agent in March after three seasons with Tennessee. The team’s game log credits him with eight tackles, a half-sack and a forced fumble through four games. He recorded two tackles in the 30–13 London victory before leaving with the hamstring problem.

His contribution has extended beyond that sack total. Colts Wire’s Paul Bretl reported that Key generated 10 quarterback pressures in the first three games, second-most on the team during that span. The absence therefore removes a regular source of pressure from a rotation that is already missing Micheal Clemons, who is on injured reserve.

Holder’s Saturday report identified JT Tuimoloau and George Gumbs as potential options for more work while Key is unavailable. Indianapolis has not promised either player a particular share of the snaps. The practice-squad addition of Lawson also remains separate from activation for a game.

For RSO managers, the immediate change is confirmed availability: Key will be absent for at least four games. A replacement’s fantasy value depends on the role he actually receives; the injury does not establish that another defender will inherit all of Key’s production.