The Indianapolis Colts have re-signed DE Josh Thomas.

Thomas, who originally signed with the Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2004, played with Colts from 2004-2008, re-signing a one-year deal last offseason. He again became an unrestricted free agent after last season, but went unsigned throughout the offseason.

“Obviously, it was a different kind of offseason,” Thomas said. “I wasn’t sure I was going to get the call. It was great. I didn’t really want to go anywhere else.”

The Colts called Monday, Thomas said.

“They said, ‘Do you want to play for the Colts?”’ Thomas said.

“Sure,” he replied.

Thomas added, “I was like, ‘Well, I’ve been watching a lot of TV lately . . . I don’t know.”’

Thomas, who played mostly a reserve role behind college teammate Dwight Freeney during his first five Colts seasons, said that likely will be his role again.

“Right now, I expect to be competing for a job and if I get the job — same role,” Thomas said. “It’s kind of what I am. And that’s good.”

Thomas, who played collegiately at Syrcause, has started 12 games for the Colts with six career sacks.

“He always has been a solid performer for us,” Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell said. “He’s a guy who is versatile. He has a real good sense of what we do from a defensive standpoint. It won’t take him very long to get up to speed with what we’re doing. He kept himself in great shape as well. He’s high energy and high-effort type of guy.”

Thomas said he believes he may play against Philadelphia Thursday.

The team released RB Walter Mendenhall.

“You fit right in, but your feet are a little heavy,” he said of Tuesday morning’s practice. “You’re a little gassed. You have to learn a little more, but as far as what you have to do, it’s the same stuff.”

Of returning a day before the end of training camp, Thomas said with a smile, “Everyone was like, ‘Oh, you held out.’ I was trying to get one more day.”