Safety Nasir Adderley’s bid to return to the NFL as a member of the Colts has come to an end.
The Colts announced that they have released Adderley on Thursday. Adderley signed with the team in mid-April in a move that brought a three-year retirement to an end.
Adderley was a 2019 second-round pick of the Chargers and retired after playing four seasons with the team. Adderley made 44 starts during his time with the Chargers and ended his time with the team with 232 tackles, two interceptions, a half-sack, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
The Colts also released cornerback Kenny Moore and waived linebacker John Bullock on Thursday.
Cornerback Kenny Moore had requested a trade back in April. But with nothing materializing, he’s now set to hit the open market.
Moore asked for and was granted his release from the Colts on Thursday, the team announced.
Indianapolis G.M. Chris Ballard had indicated last month that this could be the ultimate outcome.
By releasing Moore, the Colts will save $7.06 million against the cap with a $6.05 million dead cap charge.
Moore, 30, had been with the Colts since 2017. He played 132 games for the franchise with 111 starts, recording 21 interceptions, 68 passes defensed, six forced fumbles, and 11.5 sacks.
Moore made the Pro Bowl in 2021.
Additionally, the Colts waived linebacker John Bullock, who had joined the team in January as a waiver claim.
Colts wide receiver Josh Downs will be squaring off against his younger brother at some point during the 2026 season, but that’s not the only thing he has to look forward to this fall.
Downs posted career lows in catches and receiving yards in 2025, but said at a Wednesday press conference that “there’s probably more opportunities there for me” in the current Colts offense. Michael Pittman was traded to the Steelers this offseason, which leaves Downs and Alec Pierce as the top options at wide receiver for quarterback Daniel Jones.
That uptick coincides with the final year of Downs’ rookie contract, which is something he admits has been on his mind even as he guards against making it the kind of thought that impacts his preparation.
“Obviously, you think about it a little bit,” Downs said. “At the end of the day, you’ve got to play football, you’ve been playing this sport your whole life. I feel like just going out there, putting in the work, and having fun with it. I was talking to [Jonathan Taylor] about it yesterday. JT was telling me ‘Don’t even think about it, just go out there and play. Keep doing what you’re doing.’ That’s the most important thing, not to think about chasing money. I feel like that’s when you lose yourself.”
Pierce had the best season of his career under similar circumstances and he cashed in with a major payday this offseason. Downs could make it two in a row if all falls into place in a few months.
Anthony Richardson reported to the Colts’ voluntary offseason program on Monday after staying away for the first two weeks.
Richardson has requested a trade, and the Colts would like to move him. General Manager Chris Ballard said last week the Colts will have patience, and there is no indication the Colts will release Richardson.
“Anthony showed up here ready to work this week and, shoot, we’re gonna get some good work out of him and try to get him better and get him opportunities to go work his drills and get some throws and all that good stuff,” Colts offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said, via video from James Boyd of TheAthletic.com.
Richardson had a freak pregame accident on Oct. 12 that left him with a fractured orbital bone in his eye. Cooter said he would not “speak about a young man’s vision” when asked about Richardson’s eyesight.
Daniel Jones is the unquestioned starter, but with Richardson still on the roster, the question is how the Colts will split reps between Richardson and Riley Leonard.
“We work through how we want to do that thing,” Cooter said. “Who’s with what group is not any sort of news I’m trying to break here today, but guys are out there getting work. There’s reps to go all around. There’s throws to make. There’s reps to get in drills. Those guys are all part of the thing and getting reps.”
Colts wide receiver Josh Downs will be looking for the date of one game in particular when the 2026 schedule is released later this month.
The Colts will be hosting the Cowboys at some point during the regular season and that means that Downs will have a chance to play against his brother. Safety Caleb Downs was the 11th overall pick of this year’s draft and his early intel about the Cowboys’ plans for him suggest the two brothers will be seeing a lot of each other.
“He told me if he goes to the Cowboys, he’s playing nickel,” Josh Downs said, via James Boyd of TheAthletic.com. “So, that’s like head-to-head all game. I was like, ‘that’s interesting.’ So then he got drafted, I was like ‘you know we play next year’ and he got all hyped. It’s all fun and games, but you know I gotta let him know he’s the little brother in the situation.”
The Cowboys will be in Rio to play the Ravens in Week 3 and Week 18 is reserved for divisional games, but the matchup of the Downs brothers could take place at any other point in the regular season.
