INDIANAPOLIS - The Indianapolis Colts today placed offensive guard Ben Ijalana and defensive tackle Eric Foster on Injured Reserve, waived linebacker Nate Triplett, signed offensive tackles Michael Toudouze and Quinn Ojinnaka to the active roster and elevated defensive tackle Ricardo Mathews from the practice squad to the active roster. Offensive guard Jaimie Thomas, who is currently on Injured Reserve, was suspended by the NFL for four games due to violation of the anabolic steroid and related substances policy.
Toudouze, 6-6, 303 pounds, was originally selected by the Colts in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. After spending his rookie season on the practice squad, the San Antonio, Texas native competed in seven games (one start) from 2007-10. Toudouze saw action in four games in 2007 and made his first career NFL start at Buffalo in 2009.
Ojinnaka, 6-5, 295 pounds, is in his sixth NFL season after spending his first four years with the Atlanta Falcons and last season with the New England Patriots. From 2006-09 with the Falcons, he saw action in 39 games (12 starts) and was part of an offensive line that allowed only 17 sacks in 2008, which ranked fifth in the NFL. Last season, Ojinnaka competed in eight games for the Patriots.
Mathews, 6-3, 294 pounds, spent the first four weeks of the season on the Indianapolis practice squad. He was one of the Colts' three seventh round selections in the 2010 NFL Draft and competed in eight games last season as a reserve defensive tackle, finishing with one stop.
Ijalana was the team's second round selection in this year's draft. He saw action in the first four contests this season with the majority of time coming on special teams. Ijalana replaced Anthony Castonzo at left tackle against Tampa Bay in Week 4, but left the contest due to a knee injury.
Foster competed in the first four games of the season, making three starts at defensive tackle. He recorded 12 tackles (six solo), which included six stops in the season opener at Houston. In a Week 4 match-up at Tampa Bay, Foster left the game with a dislocated ankle.
Thomas was originally a seventh round selection by the Colts in the 2009 NFL Draft and competed in eight games with Indianapolis in 2010. He was placed on Injured Reserve with a back injury on August 19, 2011.
On Monday, October 3, Indianapolis waived defensive back Jermale Hines and elevated offensive tackle Mike Tepper from the practice squad to the active roster. Tepper saw action in Colts' Monday Night Football contest against Tampa Bay. Hines was recently claimed by the Carolina Panthers off waivers.
