Former Alabama running back Kenyan Drake tweeted: “Control what you can control.” Shortly afterward on Sunday, the Indianapolis Colts announced they had cut the veteran ball-carrier.

Like the other teams in the NFL, Indianapolis must reduce its 90-player preseason roster to the regular-season active limit of 53 by 3 p.m. CDT Tuesday.

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Drake and another Crimson Tide alumnus, guard Emil Ekiyor, were among nine players let go by the Colts on Sunday.

While Drake is seeking to play in an eighth NFL season, Ekiyor was trying to make the team as an undrafted rookie after a three-season stay at right guard for Alabama, including an All-SEC performance in 2022.

Indianapolis waived Ekiyor, which allows any other team to claim him before a 3 p.m. Monday deadline.

As a vested veteran, Drake becomes a free agent able to sign with any team immediately.

Drake caught an 8-yard touchdown pass in the Colts’ 27-13 preseason victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night. After joining Indianapolis on Aug. 4, Drake ran for 36 yards on 13 carries and caught three passes for 29 yards and one touchdown in the Colts’ three preseason games.

In 2022, Drake ran for 482 yards and four touchdowns on 109 carries and caught 17 passes for 89 yards and one touchdown in 12 games for the Baltimore Ravens.

Drake’s most productive seasons came when he ran for 817 yards and eight touchdowns on 170 carries and caught 50 passes for 345 yards in 2019 for the Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals and ran for 955 yards and 10 touchdowns on 239 carries and caught 25 passes for 137 yards in 2020 for the Cardinals.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.