Colts cut former starting LT Ugoh, add ex-Dolphin Reitz

Published: Sep 08, 2010 at 12:53 PM

INDIANAPOLIS -- Last year, Tony Ugoh lost his starting job. On Wednesday, he was out of a job.

The offensive lineman whom the Indianapolis Colts once projected as their left tackle of the future was placed on the waived-injured list after missing practice with an undisclosed foot injury. To take Ugoh's spot, the Colts claimed another offensive lineman, Joe Reitz, off waivers from the Miami Dolphins.

Colts players and coach Jim Caldwell weren't available after practice to comment on the move, but they are expected to talk about it Thursday.

Ugoh's future with the Colts had been in doubt since Caldwell demoted him from starter to backup during training camp last season. Charlie Johnson replaced Ugoh in the lineup and started 12 times. Ugoh started the other four games.

When camp opened this summer, the Colts had hoped Ugoh would win the starting job at left guard. He barely got a chance. Johnson sprained his right foot during the first week of training camp, forcing the Colts to put Ugoh back in his old spot. Ugoh spent the rest of the preseason at left tackle.

When Johnson returned to practice Wednesday, the first time he'd worked out with his teammates since Aug. 6, the Colts wasted little time in parting ways with Ugoh.

The Colts traded up to take Ugoh with the 42nd overall pick in 2007, and team president Bill Polian said then that he expected the former Arkansas star to become the eventual replacement for longtime left tackle Tarik Glenn. However, Glenn unexpectedly retired that summer, handing the starting job to Ugoh.

As a rookie, Ugoh started 11 games, missing five with injuries, with a unit that allowed just 23 sacks. He started 12 of 15 games in 2008, when the Colts allowed just 14 sacks, but with the ground game averaging only 3.4 yards per carry, Ugoh became a target for criticism.

Caldwell finally made the change at training camp.

Reitz spent part of the 2008 season and all of 2009 on the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad after signing with the team as an undrafted free agent. He grew up in Fishers, a suburb of Indianapolis, and played high school football at Hamilton Southeastern. He also was the first player from Hamilton Southeastern to make the Indiana All-Star team in basketball.

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