Indianapolis Colts pick up veteran pass rusher Shaun Phillips off waivers

The Indianapolis Colts perhaps provided star quarterback Andrew Luck with some help on the defensive side of the ball today, claiming outside linebacker and former Pro Bowler Shaun Phillips off waivers (Tennessee).  The team also waived outside linebacker Victor Butler.

Just last season, the 6-3, 255-pound Phillips produced an excellent 10-sack season for the Denver Broncos that led him to sign a free agent deal with the Titans this offseason.

However, this year Phillips had little impact on the sub-par Titans, producing only two sacks in 11 games.

Perhaps the change of scenery to a playoff-caliber team will help, as the Colts at the very least could utilize Phillips on third down as a pass rushing specialist.

Phillips has recorded 554 tackles (397 solo), 81.5 sacks, 48 passes defensed, 22 forced fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries and seven interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns, in 163 career games (121 starts). He has also posted 48 tackles (32 solo), 3.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery in 11 postseason contests (10 starts). Phillips has totaled at least 7.0 sacks in eight of his first 10 seasons and his current sack total ranks 12th in the NFL since 2004.

Phillips played the first nine seasons (2004-2012) of his career with the San Diego Chargers, followed by the Denver Broncos (2013) and Tennessee Titans (2014). In 2009, he paced the NFL with a career-high seven forced fumbles, while leading San Diego to its fourth consecutive AFC West title. The following year, Phillips earned his first career Pro Bowl selection after starting all 16 games for the Chargers and posting 11.0 sacks. In 2013, he led the Broncos in sacks with 10.0, while adding five passes defensed, two forced fumbles, and an interception.

Phillips was originally selected by the Chargers in the fourth round (98th overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft out of Purdue.

Butler was first signed by the Colts as a free agent on October 6, 2014. He played in two games this season and totaled three special teams tackles in a Week 9 victory at the New York Giants.

By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com and news services