Shane Steichen provides injury update on Colts' LB Jaylon Carlies

On Monday, following the Indianapolis Colts' loss to the LA Rams in Week 4, head coach Shane Steichen was asked about linebacker Jaylon Carlies' status for this week.

Carlies was placed on injured reserve and designated to return during roster cutdowns, while still working through an ankle injury he suffered in training camp.

Four weeks is the minimum amount of time that a player on IR has to miss before being designated to return, which makes Carlies eligible to return to practice this week, although that outcome isn't a given either.

“I'm not sure on that one," Steichen said via Colts Roundtable. "We'll see how the week goes.”

Once a player is designated to return, the team then has three weeks to add them back to the 53-man roster. So a ramp-up period upon Carlies return, whenever that takes place, will be required.

During the offseason, Carlies was the expected starter at linebacker next to Zaire Franklin, but a shoulder injury would force him to miss all of offseason programs, and then, as mentioned, he would miss most of training camp as well.

A former college safety, Carlies brings added coverage ability to the linebacker position for the Colts.

Right now, the Colts are rotating players heavily alongside of Franklin. Joe Bachie continues to get the start, but Cameron McGrone, Austin Ajiake, and Chad Muma have all seen their share of playing time as well.

It was also recently reported that the Colts signed Buddy Johnson off the Dallas practice squad as they continue to look for answers at linebacker.

This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts injury news: Shane Steichen with update on LB Jaylon Carlies