Colts cut Ridley, Irving to reach roster limit of 53

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Inside linebacker Nate Irving and running back Stevan Ridley were among the players cut by the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday.

Irving was hobbled by injuries most of last season. Ridley was signed Sunday and played in Thursday night's preseason finale.

To reach the roster limit of 53 players, Indy placed three players — cornerback Tevin Mitchell, outside linebacker Ron Thompson and offensive linemen Hugh Thornton — on injured reserve.

They also waived defensive linemen Sterling Bailey and Kelcy Quarles; linebackers Trevor Bates and Earl Okine; safeties Alden Darby, Lee Hightower and Stefan McClure; cornerbacks Tay Glover-Wright and Christopher Milton; receivers MeKale McKay and Tevaun Smith; and offensive linemen Kitt O'Brien, Adam Redmond, Mitchell Van Dyk and Jeremy Vujnovich.

Bates may have been the biggest surprise. He was a seventh-round draft pick in this year's draft and played well in Thursday night's preseason finale.

Indy also put cornerback D'Joun Smith, a third-round draft pick in 2015, on the waived-injured list. If he clears waivers, he will revert to the Colts' injured reserve list.

The Colts had some tough calls to make because of a rash of short-term injuries that left them extremely thin in the secondary and on the offensive line. Indy's top five cornerbacks were held out of Thursday's game because of injuries, and all but one of the five played in the previous game.

Right tackle Joe Reitz missed the last two preseason games with a back injury, and left guard is expected to miss another three weeks after injuring his knee in the loss to Philadelphia.

The Colts extended the NFL's longest active streak of having an undrafted rookie make the opening day roster to 18 seasons. Running back Josh Ferguson, linebacker Curt Maggitt, receiver Chester Rogers and cornerback Frankie Williams all made the cut.

On Sunday, the Colts and the rest of the league can start adding players to the 10-man practice squad.