Report: Indianapolis Colts releasing RB Deon Jackson, bringing up Trey Sermon from practice squad

The Indianapolis Colts reportedly are parting with running back Deon Jackson and calling up Trey Sermon from the practice squad to replace him heading into their game at the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.

Jackson started for the Colts in the season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars with Jonathan Taylor on injured reserve and Zack Moss not yet recovered from an arm injury.

The 24-year-old managed just 14 rushing yards on 13 carries and lost two fumbles in the 31-21 Week 1 loss. He then did not play last week against the Houston Texans with Moss able to return for his season debut, when he gained 88 yards on 18 carries and scored a touchdown in the 31-20 Week 2 victory.

The Indianapolis backfield has been in flux since training camp, with Taylor’s status the primary reason. The former NFL rushing leader was in search of a new contract and was sidelined while recovering from offseason ankle surgery. The Colts reportedly were in trade talks involving the 24-year-old before ultimately deciding to keep him and placing him on IR.

Taylor would be eligible to return to play in Week 5, but it remains unknown if he will be healthy enough to do so or what the Colts’ plans for him might be.

Sermon was a third-round pick (No. 88 overall) by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2021 NFL Draft but never caught on there, playing just nine games as a rookie and contributing 167 rushing yards. The 24-year-old appeared in two games for the Philadelphia Eagles last season and had two rushing attempts. He was released by the Eagles in August and signed with the Colts this week.

Indianapolis will be without starting quarterback Anthony Richardson, who is in the NFL concussion protocol. Gardner Minshew will start.

The Ravens’ backfield also is in flux with J.K. Dobbins lost for the season to an Achilles injury and Justice Hill out this week with a toe injury. That leaves Baltimore with Gus Edwards as its likely starter and Melvin Gordon available after he was elevated from the practice squad in the wake of Dobbins’ injury. It also signed Kenyan Drake to the practice squad this week.