ColtPower.com has been told by a league source that veteran free agent WR Rickey Proehl will be signing a contract this coming week with the Indianapolis Colts and could play in their game next Sunday at Tennessee.
ColtPower previously broke the news in a Colt Scout feature for our Insiders that Proehl had tried out for Indianapolis back on October 11. The veteran is in his 17th NFL season and has told those close to him that he thinks he can play two more years.
The move to sign Proehl may be an indication that the team is becoming increasingly concerned
with the slow progress of No. 3 WR Brandon Stokley who is still coming back from a sprained knee.
Stokley has missed the past five games due to the injury and is expected to miss his sixth against the Philadelphia Eagles this evening.
The Colts' slot receiver has seen action in just two games this year, after missing the entire preseason and the season opener with a high ankle sprain. He returned briefly in Week 2 before aggravating the ankle, and then played again in Week 5 against Tennessee, but injured his knee in that contest. He has just six catches for 67 yards and one touchdown.
Stokley's absence has been notable with the Colts offense not running as fluidly without a strong possession receiver who can run sharp routes and make plays across the middle. They've had sporadic success with tight end Dallas Clark sliding out to play the slot, but he doesn't have the speed and agility that Stokely possesses.
Last weekend against Dallas, the Colts even tried moving Reggie Wayne to the slot for a few plays while inserting Aaron Moorehead as the other wideout along with Marvin Harrison. That didn't yield favorable results either.
The Colts are clearly looking for a solution that will fill the gap. Based on our source, it appears that Proehl will get an opportunity to fill that need, providing Peyton Manning with another talented target as the Colts prepare for their stretch run during the last five weeks of the season.
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