Colts place DE Micheal Clemons on IR, confirm signing WR Darius Slayton

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Colts place DE Micheal Clemons on IR, confirm signing WR Darius Slayton

Colts place DE Micheal Clemons on IR, confirm signing WR Darius Slayton

Nathan Brown, Indianapolis Star · Indianapolis Star

Tue, Sep 22, 2026 ·

2 min read

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The Colts have placed edge rusher Micheal Clemons on injured reserve, the team announced Tuesday. The move sidelines Clemons, the 29-year-old who inked a three-year deal worth up to $18.5 million with Indianapolis in free agency , for at least the next four games through the team's Week 6 home game against the Titans.

Clemons, one of two notable defensive line additions the Colts made in free agency in March after missing out on now-Ravens star Trey Hendrickson , has played just 38 total defensive snaps in his first two games in Indianapolis (25.7%) as consistently the second defensive end off the bench behind second-year second-round pick Jaylahn Tuimoloau.

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Sep 20, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid speaks with Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen during warmups prior to the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 20: DeForest Buckner #99 of the Indianapolis Colts arrives prior to the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 20: Head coach Shane Steichen of the Indianapolis Colts arrives prior to the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 20: Daniel Jones #17 of the Indianapolis Colts arrives at the game prior to the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 20: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs kisses his wife Brittany Mahomes prior to the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Arrowhead Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 20: Drue Tranquill #23 of the Kansas City Chiefs interacts with his Jackie Tranquill prior to the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Arrowhead Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
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He played 24 snaps (30%) on defense in the team's 33-30 overtime loss Sunday night to the Chiefs in Kansas City and two on special teams. The team did not announce Clemons' specific ailment with the news, but Clemons briefly left Sunday night's game in the first half with a toe injury, though he did return. Through two games in Indianapolis, Clemons has not recorded a stat.

The move clears a roster spot for free agent wide receiver signing Darius Slayton , who the Colts landed this week after appearing to lose top receiving option Alec Pierce for a substantial amount of time with a reaggravation of his heel injury he had surgery on in March.

The Colts also announced the release of running back Anderson Castle from the practice squad Tuesday but have not yet provided a formal update on Pierce's status moving forward after the fifth-year receiver left Sunday night's game in the first quarter on a cart after hopping off the field on one foot in serious pain. X-rays on Pierce's left heel were negative, but a league source told IndyStar Monday night the receiver is likely to miss several weeks in an attempt to rehab his injury in-season and avoid surgery that could end his 2026 campaign.

Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter .

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts place DE Micheal Clemons on IR, confirm signing WR Darius Slayton

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