Germaine Pratt

Linebacker Germaine Pratt Finds a New Home

Justin Rimpi

Well, folks, it looks like the Indianapolis Colts just went shopping in the AFC West’s clearance bin and came out with a pretty decent linebacker. Germaine Pratt, fresh off a short stint with the Las Vegas Raiders, is packing his bags and heading to Indy on a one-year deal.

Talk about a quick turnaround. Pratt was shown the door in Vegas after just four games and did not even have to unpack his suitcase before the Colts came calling. It is the kind of move that makes you raise an eyebrow. One team’s trash is another team’s treasure, right? For the Raiders, who are currently navigating the choppy waters at the bottom of the league standings, letting a veteran linebacker walk seems like an odd choice. But hey, that is Vegas for you. For Pratt, this move is more than just a change of scenery; it is a reunion.

A Familiar Face For Pratt In Indy

Remember Lou Anarumo? The defensive mastermind who orchestrated the Cincinnati Bengals‘ defense for years? He is now running the show for the Colts’ defense, and he and Pratt go way back. Pratt played his first six seasons in the NFL under Anarumo in Cincinnati, appearing in 96 games and starting 88 of them. It is safe to say Anarumo knows exactly what he’s getting with this signing.

This isn’t just a comfort signing, either. The Colts are getting a player who has been consistently productive. Just last season, in 2024, Pratt racked up a career-high 143 tackles. He’s a tackling machine, a guy who knows how to find the ball and bring the ball carrier down. The Raiders might not have seen a future with him, but it seems Anarumo and the Colts see a key piece for their defensive puzzle.

What This Means For the Colts

Indianapolis is quietly having a fantastic season, sitting pretty atop the AFC standings at 4-1. Adding a veteran like Pratt, who is already deeply familiar with the defensive coordinator’s system, is a low-risk, high-reward move. He can step in almost immediately and contribute without a steep learning curve. While he didn’t even travel for the Raiders’ Week 5 game against… checks notes… the Colts, he’ll now be calling Lucas Oil Stadium home. Funny how life works out, isn’t it?

Pratt lands in a much better situation, swapping a struggling 1-4 team for a division leader. For a player entering the final stretch of a hefty three-year, $20.25 million contract, this is a chance to prove he’s still got plenty left in the tank and contribute to a winning team. The Bengals may have let him go back in June, but now he has a golden opportunity with a familiar face on a team with playoff aspirations. It is a feel-good story, unless you’re a Raiders fan wondering what in the world is going on.

Justin has been a sportswriter for nearly a decade. He has previously written for 247 Sports an Sports Illustrated.

More Great Content