INDIANAPOLIS – Chris Ballard could not hold back his laughter. The Colts general manager also did not mince his words.
After the team’s entire eight-player 2026 draft class managed to make Indianapolis’ initial 53-man roster over the weekend – along with undrafted free agent linebacker Tahj Chambers – Ballard was asked Tuesday whether the Colts’ front office had been approached by any rookies requesting to be released so they could return to college. They'd be attempting to take advantage of the state and federal court temporary restraining orders that, for now, allow players to return to playing on Saturdays.
“No,” the Colts GM uttered in between a heart laugh. “That’s the stupidest (expletive) I’ve ever heard.
“Your entire life – and I know I’ll catch crap for this – but your entire life, you fight to get up to the NFL, okay? But now, we’re going to go back? Okay, that makes a lot of freaking sense.”
The most famous instance, so far, is ex-Browns tight end Dae’Quan Wright, who went undrafted in April, initially signed with the Philadelphia Eagles then went to the Browns on waivers Aug. 11.
Wright did not appear in Cleveland’s first two preseason games and missed practice due to an injury but did dress for the second preseason game where he did not appear. Cleveland then waived him, and Wright – while already having an agreement in place to play for LSU – cleared waivers and headed to Baton Rouge, La. Wright and other players filed a lawsuit in Louisiana and were granted a temporary restraining order to play one more season of college football.
He played 47 college games over four college football seasons for Virginia Tech and Ole Miss – those last two seasons playing for current LSU coach Lane Kiffin – after graduating from high school in 2022, meaning his eligibility had ended last season, but Wright and others filed a lawsuit to be included in the NCAA’s new rule granting most Division I athletes five years of eligibility over five years that doesn’t take effect until next season.
Legal rulings have waffled back and forth on the rule and the application of it, as have teams’ and conferences’ willingness to accept players who participated in NFL training camps. As of Monday, Wright continued to practice with LSU, but Kiffin “could not predict” if any late additions to the team would play in the team’s season-opener Saturday against Clemson.
Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Chris Ballard on NFL players returning to college : 'Stupidest (expletive) I've ever heard'
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