In order to make room on the roster for 14 undrafted free agent signings, the Indianapolis Colts had to waive two players.
In order to make room on the roster for 14 undrafted free agent signings, the Indianapolis Colts had to waive two players.
The team announced on Friday that, in addition to the UDFA signings, guard Atonio Mafi and defensive tackle Pheldarius Payne were waived.
Mafi was signed to the Colts’ practice squad during roster cutdowns last summer. He spent most of the season there, but joined the 53-man roster in Week 13 when the Colts were dealing with injuries along the interior offensive line, with both Ryan Kelly and Tanor Bortolini out at that time.
Mafi played three special teams snaps in that Week 13 matchup against New England, along with six others in Weeks 11 and 12 when he was a practice squad elevation.
Mafi is a former fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft out of UCLA by New England, Mafi had a fairly big role during his rookie season with the Patriots, playing 458 regular season snaps over 12 games, mostly at left guard.
Payne, meanwhile, joined the Colts’ practice squad in early December of the 2024 season. He went undrafted last April out of Virginia Tech and spent some time with Houston.
Listed at 6-3 – 275 pounds, Payne played 657 career snaps over three collegiate seasons. He graded out by PFF’s metrics as one of the best run defenders in 2023 and tallied 23 pressures, including six sacks.
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