Colts release RB Vick Ballard

Vick Ballard, who led the Indianapolis Colts in rushing in 2012 before battling a series of injuries that cost him nearly all of the past two seasons, was waived by the team on Tuesday.

After leading the team in rushing with 814 yards as a rookie, Ballard missed 36 games the past two seasons with an ACL injury and a torn Achilles' tendon. 

The 25-year-old then dealt with three different hamstring injuries during training camp and the preseason, made the 53-man roster as a backup to starter Frank Gore in a somewhat surprising move. 

In explaining his decision to keep Ballard on the roster out of the training camp, general manager Ryan Grigson said the veteran back showed the potential to be "a starter-caliber runner."

"He’s a talented guy ... he’s done a lot of great things here and you saw glimpses of that. You’re going to pump the breaks before you let someone with that talent just walk out your door," Grigson said, per the Indianapolis Star. "He’s had some minor dings. They’re not majors. We’ll just take it day-by-day with him like (with) all these guys.”

Ballard's release leaves the Colts with just three running backs on the roster in Gore and rookie backups Josh Robsinson and Tyler Varga.

On Tuesday, the Colts also promoted linebacker Josh McNary from the practice squad to the active roster to fill Ballard's spot and added running back Zurlon Tipton to the practice squad. McNary, who the Colts signed last week, was found not guilty of rape charges earlier in September.

(h/t Indianapolis Star)