Colts release Darius Slayton before he plays a game

The Indianapolis Colts released wide receiver Darius Slayton on October 16, less than a month after signing him. Slayton did not appear in a game for the team during his brief stay in Indianapolis. The Colts signed Slayton on September 22, bringing in the veteran after receiver Alec Pierce was placed on injured reserve with a heel injury. Indianapolis sought depth at the position and hoped Slayton’s familiarity with quarterback Daniel Jones, his former teammate with the New York Giants, could provide a downfield option. Slayton, 29, was inactive for the Colts’ games in Weeks 3 and 4. Coach Shane Steichen attributed those decisions to Slayton’s need to learn the offense, according to one account. Slayton later said he felt ready to participate when he signed, but accepted the coaching staff’s decision to give him additional time to acclimate. A knee injury sustained in practice then kept Slayton out of the lineup. He returned to practice as a full participant on Wednesday, October 14, but the Colts released him two days later rather than giving him a game appearance. Reports described the knee injury as affecting his availability; the team’s full rationale for the release was...