The Colts are bringing back a familiar face as a backup defensive tackle, claiming their former 5th round pick off waivers.
The Indianapolis Colts announced on Thursday that the team has claimed former defensive tackle Eric Johnson II off waivers, while waiving international safety Marcel Dabo in a corresponding roster move:
We have claimed DT Eric Johnson II off waivers (from NE) and waived S Marcel Dabo.
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) May 15, 2025
Originally drafted by the Colts in the 5th round of the 2022 NFL Draft, the 6’4,” 299 pound defensive tackle was claimed off waivers by the New England Patriots as part of Indianapolis’s final 53-man roster cuts last year.
The Colts had hoped to get him to their practice squad this past year, but with no such luck.
This time, it’s the Colts returning the favor on waivers to New England.
Johnson appeared in 11 games for the Patriots in 2024, recording 17 tackles (2 solo) and 4 total QB pressures. He received a +54.2 overall grade by PFF during last season.
During his prior two seasons with the Colts, Johnson had been a serviceable rotational backup defensive tackle. What impressed me most had been his hustle, as there were times he wouldn’t give up on the play, only to help bring down the ball carrier because of effort.
That’s something that the Colts coaching staff has to love seeing, particularly from its backups and on special teams. Welcome back to the ‘Shoe, Johnson!
As for Dabo, he had been allocated to the Colts back in 2022 as part of the team’s NFL International Player Pathway Program. He had yet to appear in an NFL game, but had spent the past three seasons on the Indianapolis practice squad.
The Colts had recently been granted a roster exemption for Dabo, but with his waiving on Thursday, that will now transition to Colts’ rookie UDFA tight end Maximillian Mang.