Indianapolis, IN – Indianapolis, IN (SportsNetwork.com) - The Indianapolis Colts reached the NFL's 53-man roster limit on Saturday by releasing 17 players, including linebacker Kelvin Sheppard, who started seven regular-season games and both of the team's postseason affairs a year ago.
A third-round pick by Buffalo in 2011, Sheppard started 15 games for the Bills in the 2012 season and was eventually traded to Indianapolis for edge rusher Jerry Hughes.
Also waived were defensive ends Gannon Conway and Tyler Hoover, running back David Fluellen, quarterback Chandler Harnish, linebackers Phillip Hunt, Andrew Jackson and Rob Ruggiero, wide receivers Ryan Lankford and Josh Lenz, center FN Lutz, safety Dewey McDonald, defensive tackle Nnamdi Obukwelu, cornerback Sheldon Price, tight ends Weslye Saunders and Erik Swoope and guard Josh Walker.
Jackson was the team's sixth-round pick out of Western Kentucky in May.
The Colts also released nose tackle Brandon McKinney, and waived-injured offensive tackle Matt Hall as well as safety Delano Howell.
Meanwhile, star pass rusher Robert Mathis, who was suspended for the first four games by the NFL for violating the league's PED policy, was placed on the reserve/suspended list.
The Colts will open their regular season on Sept. 7, when they visit the Denver Broncos.
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