INDIANAPOLIS — The Colts finally added a player with some experience to the least battle-tested position group on the roster.
Indianapolis claimed veteran linebacker Chad Muma off waivers from the Jaguars on Wednesday, the news breaking from Colts general manager Chris Ballard in the middle of his press conference.
Muma has played 690 snaps defensively in three seasons in Jacksonville, making him the linebacker with the most defensive experience on the roster outside of Pro Bowl middle linebacker Zaire Franklin.
“Muma can play probably both Will and Mike, he’s good on teams,” Ballard said. “We liked him coming out of Wyoming, and he’s had some experience.”
Muma, a third-round pick by the Jaguars in 2022, hasn’t necessarily lived up to his draft position.
A third-round pick typically develops into a starter, but Muma has been a backup for three seasons, topping the 250-snap mark twice but never taking more than 286 defensive snaps in a season.
Muma’s made 94 tackles in three seasons with the Jaguars.
But he’s also struggled in coverage, likely meaning he will not challenge veteran Joe Bachie for the starting weak-side job, at least not at first. Bachie, a veteran brought over from Cincinnati because of his experience in Lou Anarumo’s defense, has been the front-runner for the job after an encouraging training camp.
“It’s different than it was in the past, because we usually kept six and dressed six in the scheme we were in before, but now, a little differently, (Anarumo) will play some dime, so we’ll really only play with a Mike and a Will,” Ballard said.
Indianapolis initially kept four linebackers on the 53-man roster: Franklin, Bachie, Lawrence Central product Cameron McGrone and special teamer Segun Olubi.
Muma makes five, and it’s possible the Colts make another move to add some experience, although Indianapolis expects second-year linebacker Jaylon Carlies back soon after he serves the four-game minimum on injured reserve after being placed there with a designation to return due to an ankle injury suffered in the preseason opener against Baltimore.
From the sounds of it, the linebacker position is still a work in progress.
Joel A. Erickson covers the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts add an experienced linebacker off the waiver wire
Reporting by Joel A. Erickson, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
