Daurice

Fountain

The team reportedly hopes to have Carlson back on the practice squad if he clears waivers. The rookie tight end earned an opportunity to compete for a roster spot after a strong training camp and caught five passes for 47 yards in the preseason. In addition to Carlson, the Bears also released/waived LB Micah Baskerville, DT Travis Bell, FB Robert Burns, CB Macon Clark, OT Kellen Diesch, OG Dieter Eiselen, LB DeMarquis Gates, DE Trevis Gipson, DE Jalen Harris, OT Bobby Haskins, DE D’Anthony Jones, OG Josh Lugg, OT Roy Mbaeteka, CB Michael Ojemudia, TE Lachlan Pitts, DT Bravvion Roy, OG Logan Stenberg, LB Davion Taylor, S Bralen Trahan, CB Kindle Vildor, LB Barrington Wade, LB Mykal Walker, S Kendall Williamson, DT Andrew Brown, OT Aviante Collins, WR Daurice Fountain, QB Nathan Peterman, CB Greg Stroman Jr., and WR Nsimba Webster.

Fountain has recorded two catches since being drafted with the No. 159 selection in 2018, recovering from three different ankle surgeries in that span. He’ll compete to make the roster out of camp.

Fountain wasn’t able to practice until the final days of training camp due to multiple ankle surgeries. The surgeries came after he suffered a gruesome season-ending ankle injury heading last year. Fountain has yet to record a catch since being drafted with the No. 159 selection in 2018.

Fountain is coming back from three ankle surgeries. He’s looked healthy based on camp reports. Fountain is competing with Marcus Johnson, Dezmon Patmon, Artavis Scott, and Ashton Dulin for one of the final receiver spots.

The 2018 fifth-rounder has yet to play a snap in the regular season but recently implied he’s recovered fully from last year’s gruesome season-ending ankle injury. With so much uncertainty surrounding the Colts’ receiving corps (and situation under center) ahead of the new league year, it’s possible the 24-year-old surprisingly carves out a reserve role for himself on Indy’s depth chart. He’ll need a tremendous camp showing to do so.

He missed all of 2019 after suffering a dislocated ankle in training camp. “Back on field this week, praise the LORD. It’s been a long time coming,” Fountain tweeted Monday. Fountain didn’t get into any specifics, though clearly the 24-year-old’s health is trending in the right direction following what could have been a career-threatening injury. The 2018 fifth-rounder has yet to play an NFL down but was turning heads before his injury last summer.

Fountain could be heard “screaming from the sideline.” Both teams then gathered around in prayer. Colts owner Jim Irsay attempted to console Fountain before he was taken away. A second-year fifth-rounder, Fountain was reportedly having an excellent camp after making just one rookie appearance. The 23-year-old’s NFL future is in serious doubt.

DE Carroll Phillips was placed on active/PUP. Fountain was taken in the fifth round of last year’s draft and played just seven offensive snaps as a rookie, seeing zero targets. He faces an uphill battle to make the roster.

Fountain (6’2/206) was a three-year starter at NIU, logging a career 150/2,077/23 receiving line at 13.9 yards per catch. Not invited to the Combine, Fountain helped himself at the Panthers’ Pro Day with a 4.51 forty and explosive vertical (42 ½") and broad (11’2") jumps. Fountain also had the longest arms (34") of any wide receiver at the Combine. Lacking short-area quickness and not a separator on game tape, Fountain wins with length and leaping ability and offers some vertical potential at the next level.