The Indianapolis Colts have placed safety Mike Mitchell on the injured reserve list due to a calf strain, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. Mitchell suffered the injury during the Colts' Wild Card Round win over the Houston Texans last weekend.

Indianapolis signed Mitchell back in early October, and he proceeded to play in eight games for the team this season, finishing with 28 tackles, an interception, and a pair of forced fumbles.

Mitchell, who played his collegiate football at the University of Ohio, was originally selected by the Oakland Raiders in the second round (47th pick overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft. He spent the first four years of his career with the Raiders, but was a pretty big disappointment, as Mitchell failed to crack the starting lineup, making only nine starts throughout his tenure in Oakland.

The 31-year-old then signed a one-year contract with the Carolina Panthers, where he finally became a full-time starter and registered 72 tackles, four sacks, four interceptions, a couple of forced fumbles, and eight passes defended.

Mitchell parlayed that impressive 2013 campaign into a five-year, $25 million deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers and went on to become a staple in the Steelers' secondary, starting all 16 games in each of his first three seasons with the club and remaining a productive part of the defense.

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After four years in Pittsburgh, Mitchell was released last March. He remained on the free-agent market until the Colts signed him seven months later.

Indianapolis will take on the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs on Saturday.