Colts release S Ronnie Harrison

While the first squad cuts in the league continue, Ronnie Harrison is one of the players being released by the Colts. The veteran safety was released on Sunday, according to a team statement.

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Harrison spent the 2023 season with Indianapolis, making seven appearances and three starts. The 27-year-old had two interceptions and played 51% of snaps on defense. He was also a contributor on special teams, which helped him land a new contract with the Colts in March.

That pact was for the veteran minimum and included no guaranteed salary, so this move will not result in any dead cap charges for the Colts as they move forward with looming questions in the secondary. Julian Blackmon — who re-signed after a lengthy stint as a free agent in Indianapolis — is certain to take a starting position on the back end. Who will back him up as the second safety remains to be seen, and Harrison has spent time on the first-team defense during training camp.

Further examples in this context were Nick Cross And Rodney Thomasand attention will now turn to their respective places in the safety pecking order. The former came into the league with high expectations as a third-round pick in 2022 but has only started four times so far. The latter, on the other hand, has started 25 games in his two seasons in the league. Thomas recorded 82% of defensive snaps in 2023, and even if Harrison is brought back via the practice squad, he will likely play a big role again this year.

Harrison is a seasoned veteran, so he will not have to clear waivers after his release. The former Jaguar and Brown can therefore sign with any interested team immediately; otherwise, he could return to the Colts later this week via their taxi squad. The team showed no interest in Justin Simmonsand reinforcement by an external safety is not expected at this time. With or without Harrison in the team, the Blackmon-Thomas-Cross trio will be heavily used in 2024.