The Indianapolis Colts moved to restock their receiving depth Tuesday after dealing away two wide receivers before the NFL trade deadline.
The team signed Nick Westbrook-Ikhine from the practice squad to the active 53-man roster, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
“After trading Keenan Allen to the 49ers, the Colts signed WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine to their 53-man roster from their practice squad.”
Westbrook-Ikhine had been elevated from the practice squad three times earlier this season. He played 19 snaps on offense in those appearances and was targeted once without a reception. He logged 45 snaps on special teams.
The 29-year-old receiver signed a one-year deal with Indianapolis in the offseason. He was released at final roster cuts and quickly returned to the practice squad. Westbrook-Ikhine has appeared in 96 career games with 42 starts. He has 137 career receptions for 1,862 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Earlier Tuesday the Colts sent Keenan Allen to the San Francisco 49ers for a 2027 sixth-round draft pick. Allen, signed by Indianapolis in August, caught 40 passes for 351 yards and one touchdown in eight games this season. He ranks eighth in NFL history with 1,095 career receptions.
The Colts also traded Josh Downs and a 2027 seventh-round selection to the Kansas City Chiefs. In return they received 2027 fourth- and fifth-round picks, according to reports.
“BREAKING: The #Colts are trading WR Josh Downs to the #Chiefs for a package that includes a 4th-round pick, per sources. A new weapon for Patrick Mahomes.”
Downs had 33 catches for 354 yards and one touchdown in nine games with the Colts this year. He is in the final season of his rookie contract and had requested a trade in recent weeks.
The two receiver deals leave Westbrook-Ikhine positioned for a larger role on offense. The Colts enter Week 10 at 2-7 and face the Miami Dolphins.
With Westbrook-Ikhine now on the active roster, Indianapolis filled its open practice-squad spot by signing long snapper Jacob Bobenmoyer. Bobenmoyer has played in 98 career games since entering the league in 2020. He has recorded 22 special-teams tackles and one fumble recovery across stints with the Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars.
The receiver trades continue a stretch of moves that have added draft capital for a team in transition. Indianapolis now holds 10 picks in the 2027 draft after dealing several veterans whose contracts were set to expire after this season.
Westbrook-Ikhine, who played college football at Indiana, went undrafted in 2020 and spent his first five seasons with the Tennessee Titans before a year with the Dolphins. His addition gives the Colts a veteran option as they rework the offense around remaining targets.
The deadline activity signals a clear shift toward the future for a franchise that has struggled to stay competitive this season. Additional roster adjustments could follow as the Colts evaluate their remaining depth chart ahead of the final stretch of games.
