INDIANAPOLIS – One of the longest-tenured players is back for more.
Mo Alie-Cox, who joined the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted rookie in 2017, has signed a one-year contract. He had hoped to generate interest on the free-agent market, but Indy remained his best option.
“I’d love to come back, but definitely weighing all my options, for sure,’’ Alie-Cox said at the end of last season.
He added he was looking for “the best situation for me personally. I would say just winning. We have won here, but we’ve kind of been in the same position for a while.
“It’s been four years since you’ve been in the playoffs. Just trying to hit that next step in my career.’’
That next step will come where his first step was taken.
The Colts signed Alie-Cox after he was a productive power forward for the Virginia Commonwealth basketball team.
His development has been steady and enters an eighth season.
Alie-Cox, 31, has 114 receptions for 1,433 yards and 15 touchdowns in 108 career games, including 47 as a starter.
He remains the Colts’ best blocking tight end, but his contributions in the passing game have steadily lessened. In 2024, Alie-Cox finished with 12 receptions, 147 yards and one TD on just 22 targets.
The Colts are committed to upgrading their tight ends room, and Alie-Cox’s return won’t change that. They hold the No. 14 overall pick in the April 24 draft and could target either Penn State’s Tyler Warren or Michigan’s Coleston Loveland.
The tight ends on the roster consist of Alie-Cox, Will Mallory, Drew Ogletree, Jelani Woods, Sean McKeon and Albert Okwuegbunam Jr. Kylen Granson signed with the Philadelphia Eagles.
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.