The Colts on Wednesday signed linebacker EJ Speed to a contract extension.
Speed appeared in all 17 games with five starts and set career highs in tackles (63), tackles for a loss (7) and special teams snaps (384) in 2022. He primarily played Sam (strongside) linebacker in Gus Bradley's 4-3 scheme, and his 384 special teams snaps were a team high and his eight special teams tackles were tied for second-most on the Colts.
Speed in 2022 also recorded his first career sack, a strip-sack of Houston Texans quarterback Davis Mills in Week 1. And Speed was particularly effective against the run: His 82.8 Pro Football Focus run defense grade ranked eighth among linebackers in 2022.
Originally a fifth-round pick (No. 164 overall) from Tarleton State in the 2019 NFL Draft, Speed carved out a role as a core special teamer for the Colts early in his pro career. Speed was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week in both 2020 (Week 10) and 2021 (Week 10); in 2021, he scored a pair of touchdowns off blocked punts.
Over his four years in Indianapolis, Speed has appeared in 61 games (six starts) with 110 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, three forced fumbles, three pass break-ups and one sack.
A look back at some of the best shots of linebacker E.J. Speed from the 2022 season.
![45 LB E.J. Speed](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/colts/rmqqfceawo322fj6usai.jpg)
45 LB E.J. Speed
![45 LB E.J. Speed](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/colts/armiuymuzl2depeq44ac.jpg)
45 LB E.J. Speed
![45 LB E.J. Speed,](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/colts/ro3q17brctyyqhvqcrju.jpg)
45 LB E.J. Speed,
![45 LB E.J. Speed,](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/colts/ovpykwhvoubajfzpvmpv.jpg)
45 LB E.J. Speed,
![45 LB E.J. Speed](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/colts/gqizcihl6trssda5yqic.jpg)
45 LB E.J. Speed
![45 LB E.J. Speed,](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/colts/zilct66npaaw3eqp8jhd.jpg)
45 LB E.J. Speed,
![45 LB E.J. Speed,](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/colts/qxvmwlekessigo8wyryl.jpg)
45 LB E.J. Speed,
![45 LB E.J. Speed,](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/colts/xduuwrc9eyp7zifuyfxp.jpg)
45 LB E.J. Speed,
![45 LB E.J. Speed,](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/colts/vkohhuwaco4haz5z34cp.jpg)
45 LB E.J. Speed,
![45 LB E.J. Speed](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/colts/wrcryybzluccl4htb0wh.jpg)
45 LB E.J. Speed
![45 LB E.J. Speed,](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/colts/am535mjci8g5pspgddww.jpg)
45 LB E.J. Speed,
![45 LB E.J. Speed](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/colts/czcxtptpsmx2c4hkomkn.jpg)
45 LB E.J. Speed
![45 LB E.J. Speed](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/colts/wpz7ok9l656lqlg1zuhj.jpg)
45 LB E.J. Speed
![45 LB E.J. Speed](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/colts/j2ip2iqkxpn90lu8aqhi.jpg)
45 LB E.J. Speed
![45 LB E.J. Speed](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/colts/fhnp8xn5eyznfkoc3zpq.jpg)
45 LB E.J. Speed
![45 LB E.J. Speed](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/colts/raqyfrerjkjwwrapvfcp.jpg)
45 LB E.J. Speed
![45 LB E.J. Speed](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/colts/gutyugaifsetnpcivsug.jpg)
45 LB E.J. Speed
![45 LB E.J. Speed](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/colts/ibcpp6vnau8ysgno33tb.jpg)
45 LB E.J. Speed
![45 LB E.J. Speed](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/colts/vyvsitfvmt5a6otomtst.jpg)
45 LB E.J. Speed
![45 LB E.J. Speed](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/colts/rvqpridsplmz1doedkgc.jpg)
45 LB E.J. Speed
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