Indianapolis releases Colby Wooden following trade for Zaire Franklin

The Indianapolis Colts released defensive lineman Colby Wooden on Sunday, five months after acquiring him from the Green Bay Packers. The March trade sent linebacker Zaire Franklin to Green Bay, where he joins defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon and is projected to start alongside Edgerrin Cooper. Indianapolis initially moved to acquire Wooden to bolster its defensive front, but the player failed to make the team's final 53-man roster. While Wooden is now available to sign with other teams or potentially return to the Indianapolis practice squad, the move has drawn scrutiny regarding the initial terms of the deal. The Packers successfully addressed a positional need by securing a veteran linebacker, while the Colts remain without the player they traded away. Franklin enters the final year of his current contract following his tenure in Indianapolis.

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