As soon as he was released by the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday, linebacker Germaine Pratt had interest from other teams – but he said he "couldn't wait" to get to Indianapolis and reunite with defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.
"He's like a father figure to me, helping me with life and football," Pratt said.
Pratt was a third-round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals in 2019; the Bengals selected players on offense with their first two picks in that year's draft, and Pratt was the first defensive player drafted by then-first-year defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. Pratt became a full-time starter halfway through his rookie year, and said he's always had a "great relationship" with Anarumo, under whom he played from 2019-2024.
Pratt in 2024 set a career high with 143 tackles; he recorded two interceptions in each of his final three seasons with the Bengals.
"Excited about him, excited about his talents, what he can bring to this football team," head coach Shane Steichen said.
With the Colts, Pratt could help fill a hole at the Will linebacker spot next to Zaire Franklin in Anarumo's defense.
"Veteran experience, been in Lou's system so obviously very familiar with what we do defensively," Steichen said. "From what I heard, very smart player, physical football player. Excited to have him."
Steichen said the Colts will go through this week of practice with Pratt and see if he can be ready to play Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals at Lucas Oil Stadium. Pratt, though, said he's excited to join a defense that enters Week 6 third in the NFL in points allowed per game (17.8) and fifth in takeaways (eight).
"Their standard is set high," Pratt said. "I gotta set myself a high standard and come up to speed."
Check out photos from the Indianapolis Colts' practice at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center as they prepare for Week 6's matchup versus the Arizona Cardinals.
P Rigoberto Sanchez #8
LB Chad Muma #55
DL Samson Ebukam #52
QB Daniel Jones #17
DE Kwity Paye #51
DL Kwity Paye #51
LB Anthony Walker Jr. #54
P Rigoberto Sanchez #8
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
TE Tyler Warren #84
P Rigoberto Sanchez #8 and K Michael Badgley #12
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
QB Daniel Jones #17
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
CB Keydrain Calligan #39
DL Grover Stewart #90, S Nick Cross #20, S Camryn Bynum #0, DE Laiatu Latu #97, CB Johnathan Edwards #35, DL DeForest Buckner #99 and DL Neville Gallimore #92
K Michael Badgley #12
S Camryn Bynum #0
CB Mekhi Blackmon #29, DL DeForest Buckner #99 and DT Grover Stewart #90
DL DeForest Buckner #99, DE Kwity Paye #51 and DL Grover Stewart #90
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
LB Germaine Pratt #53 and CB Mike Hilton #33
DE JT Tuimoloau #91
C Danny Pinter #63
WR Josh Downs #1
RB Ameer Abdullah #26
G Quenton Nelson #56
TE Tyler Warren #84
RB Ulysses Bentley IV #37
WR Alec Pierce #14
RB Ulysses Bentley IV #37
CB Charvarius Ward #7
G Tanor Bortolini #60
K Michael Badgley #12
T Bernhard Raimann #79
WR Laquon Treadwell #13
RB DJ Giddens #21
Brian Mason Special Teams Coordinator
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
WR Michael Pittman Jr. #11
LB Germaine Pratt #53
LB Segun Olubi #50
LB Germaine Pratt #53
Reggie Wayne Wide Receivers and WR Michael Pittman Jr. #11
QB Riley Leonard #15
WR Josh Downs #1
QB Riley Leonard #15 and QB Anthony Richardson #5
QB Riley Leonard #15
TE Tyler Warren #84
WR Josh Downs #1
RB Ameer Abdullah #26 and Brad Powers Equipment
WR Josh Downs #1
TE Tyler Warren #84
LB Germaine Pratt #53
Shane Steichen Head Coach and WR Michael Pittman Jr. #11
RB D.J. Giddens #21
RB DJ Giddens #21
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
LB Buddy Johnson #59
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
RB Jonathan Taylor #28 and QB Daniel Jones #17
CB Mekhi Blackmon #29 and CB Jonathan Edwards #35
LB Buddy Johnson #59
RB Jonathan Taylor #28 and QB Daniel Jones #17
QB Daniel Jones #17
RB Ulysses Bentley IV #37
CB Charvarius Ward #7
S Rodney Thomas II #25
S Rodney Thomas II #25
QB Daniel Jones #17
LB Austin Ajiake #58
DE Laiatu Latu #97
QB Anthony Richardson #5
LB Zaire Franklin #44
LB Germaine Pratt #53
LB Segun Olubi #50 and LB Segun Olubi #50
