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Released by the Detroit Lions earlier this week, quarterback Shaun King already has a new job, and it's working for his old boss.

King, who did not play in the NFL in 2005 and was released by Detroit on Wednesday after having signed with the Lions earlier in the spring as a free agent, on Friday signed with the Indianapolis Colts. The move reunites King with coach Tony Dungy, under whom he played in Tampa Bay, and certainly fortifies the Indianapolis depth chart.

Contract details were not yet available.

Colts backup Jim Sorgi has been unable to throw in recent weeks because of a sore right shoulder, and the only other quarterbacks on the roster behind Peyton Manning were undrafted free agents Josh Betts of Miami (Ohio) and David Koral of UCLA.

Dungy noted during the team's recent minicamp that the Colts might perhaps seek another veteran quarterback, but noted that it would take "a special kind of guy," given that the job would be the No. 3 slot on the depth chart, and that Manning takes so many snaps, even in practices.

"We just think Shaun will add to our quarterback situation," Dungy said. "He's an experienced guy who has played in a lot of big games and won. I think he's going to be a good fit for our system and what we do. Both years he started for us [in Tampa Bay] we went to the playoffs and he was a big reason why."

During his five-year stint the Buccaneers, King played for Dungy in three of those seasons.

King, 29, has appeared in only 12 games, with three starts, since starting all 16 contests for the Bucs in 2000. But in workouts with other teams over the last two years, he has thrown the ball well, and he is the kind of solid, high-character player Dungy wants in his locker room.

Chosen by Tampa Bay in the second round of the 1999 draft, King has a 14-10 record as a starter. He took over as the starter late in his rookie season and led Tampa Bay into the NFC Championship Game. In 2000, he started all 16 games, compiled a 10-6 mark, and led the Buccaneers to a wild card berth. In the following three years, however, King had just one start.

The former Tulane standout signed with Arizona as a free agent in 2004 and played in three games, with two starts. Although he had several auditions for teams in 2005, no one signed King, but he continued to work out, while pursuing several charitable endeavors in the Tampa area.

He was the first of three unrestricted free agent veteran quarterbacks signed by the Lions this spring, but then became expendable when Detroit subsequently added Jon Kitna and Josh McCown.

In 34 appearances, King has completed 415 of 738 passes for 4,566 yards, with 27 touchdown passes and 24 interceptions.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com. To check out Len's chat archive, click here .