Colts Gab

It appears that Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning will get the start during Week 1 when they host the Chicago Bears on September 7, according to the Associated Press and confirmed by team head coach Tony Dungy, with Dungy adding, “I would be shocked if he’s not there (a week from) Sunday. He would have to have a dramatic setback. Right now, every step we’ve taken has been good.”

Manning, who has never missed a start in his entire career, has made significant progress in coming back from having surgery to remove an infected bursa sac from his left knee. He was activated from the “physically-unable-to-perform” list on Tuesday then did some light work at practice; with no soreness in the knee as a result, the coaches increased his workload. He suited up for Thursday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, but did not play. So again, you can almost bet the house note that Manning will be under center on September 7 against the Bears.

The game between the Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday was a game where the starters for both teams were rested; the end result showed that observation as the Bengals’ effective game management, along with a stout defense, sealed the deal as the Bengals defeated the Colts 27-7 at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Colts had issues all game long as the QB derby continued; neither Quinn Gray or Jared Lorenzen distinguished themselves at all on the field while the defense struggled, as well. The lone bright spot – and score – for Indianapolis was a 103-yard kick return touchdown by kick returner/WR Courtney Roby during the second quarter. The Colts, like the Bengals, rested all of their offensive starters (QB Peyton Manning, RB Joseph Addai, WR’s Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison and tight end Dallas Clark) – and it showed with their offensive performance on the field, totalling only 154 total yards of offense.

Lorenzen led the Colts’ passing attack – or lack thereof – going 9-of-16 for 91 yards and an interception while Quinn Gray did worse, going 3-of-12 for 37 yards. Chad Simpson led all Colts rushers with 17 yards on 6 carries while Roby led all Colts receivers with 24 yards on a reception and the aforementioned kick return TD.

Jeff Rowe went 7-for-11 for 67 yards while Jordan Palmer (brother of Carson) went 4-of-7 for 43 yards; Ryan Fitzpatrick also played briefly, going 5-of-8 for 35 yards and a TD. James Johnson led all Bengals rushers with 54 yards on only 8 carries while DeDe Dorsey added 9 carries for 38 yards and a TD. TE Nate Lawrie led all Bengals receivers with 2 receptions for 37 yards while WR Marion Urrutia added 27 yards on 2 catches; Glenn Holt pitched in with 4 receptions for 20 yards and a score. Cincinnati next plays in their season opener as they visit Baltimore to face the Ravens on September 7 while Indianapolis hosts the Chicago Bears in their season opener – also on September 7.

The injury bug has hit the Colts again, as now a published report in the Indy Star says that center Jeff Saturday will miss the first six weeks of the season with a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee. The injury is a big one for the Colts, who have come to count on Saturday, who has started 59 straight games.

The report says that if the 33-year-old Pro Bowl center decides to have surgery to repair ligament damage to his right knee, he could miss as many as 11 weeks. The injury took place in the rather ugly 20-7 loss to the Bills on Sunday night at the new Lucas Oil Field.

QB Peyton Manning, who is back with the team after missing some time after surgery, is one of Saturday’s biggest fans. “It’s pretty well documented how I feel about him and how the team feels about him and how important he is to the team and to this offense,” Manning told reporters Tuesday. “We’re certainly hoping for good news. Jeff’s one of the old-school players. He’s one of the tough guys on this team and in this league.”

Watch your Indianapolis Colts take on the Cincinnati Bengals this Thursday, August 28th at 7:00 p.m. Come see your Colts Customer Relationship Representative at the American Family Fan Zone for the pre-game festivities between 3:30-5:30 p.m. You will have an opportunity to register to win for a JEFF SATURDAY #63 AUTHENTIC JERSEY.  This register to win will be available pre-game for the first five home games.  A winner will be selected and contacted following the Baltimore Ravens game.

Check out the American Family Fan Zone for pre-game festivities.  The American Family Fan Zone consists of Colts In Motion, Colts Pro Shop trailer, Meijer VIP Tent and other great booths for fans to enjoy.  Enjoy entertainment from “The Woomblies,” who will perform on the Fan Zone Stage from 3:00-6:30 p.m.  The American Family Fan Zone is located on the southeast corner of Lucas Oil Stadium (just south of the Sprint East Gate), and is open to the public from 3:00-6:30 p.m.

Check out www.colts.com for more information about the pre-game activities.

Fill the Boot Pre-Game Collection:
Members of the Indianapolis Fire Department will be hosting their annual “Fill the Boot” pre-game collection outside each Lucas Oil Stadium gate. Firefighters will be stationed at the Colts Community Collection Stations from 3-7 p.m. to collect cash donations for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Fans are encouraged to join the Colts in supporting this worthy cause before heading into the stadium to watch the Colts take on the Bengals.

If you have any questions or concerns during the game, a CRR will be stationed at the Ticket Office window, which is located in the southeast corner of the stadium from the start of the first quarter through the third quarter for every home game.

REMINDER:
Gates open 4 hours prior to kick-off. Please allow enough time to get to your seats.  The 100 and 200 Levels are located on the Street Level, the 300 and 400 Levels are located on the Loge Level, and the 500 and 600 Levels are located on the Terrace Level.

More than a month has passed by and everyone and their brother were speculating as to Peyton Manning’s whereabouts and whether his knee was worse than originally expected.  According to the Associated Press, the Indianapolis Colts activated the quarterback Tuesday and will initially be limited in practice after being taken off the physically unable to perform list.

Colts head coach Tony Dungy said that Manning would be cautious with Manning during this short week as Indianapolis played the Buffalo Bills on Sunday and host the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday – before giving him a full allotment of snaps starting next week. To recap, Manning was instructed not to report to training camp with his teammates July 24, 10 days after having surgery to remove an infected bursa sac from his left knee. At that time, team officials said that it would take Manning four to six weeks to recover – and the 6-week period came on Monday, the day when the Colts did not practice. But despite that, local media, bloggers and fans alike constantly specualted on Manning’s whereabouts and readiness despite Dungy stating that Manning had arrived at Colts camp on July 29.

Right now, for all intents and purposes, the Colts are down to 2 QB’s – Quinn Gray and Jared Lorenzen. Which makes the return of Manning all that more important. Manning’s normal backup QB, Jim Sorgi, didn’t dress for last Sunday’s game due to a gimpy knee. But at the same time, Manning being activated doesn’t guarantee that he will start in the season opener against Chicago, either; however, if everything goes to according to plan, expect Manning to be behind center during Week 1.

Mike Chappell, of the Indianapolis Star, reports Colts QB Peyton Manning will be taken off the Physically Unable to Perform list and is expected to practice Tuesday. “I think we’ll ease him in and see how he practices and what he’s able to do and we’ll see from there,” head coach Tony Dungy said. He is unlikely to play in the team’s preseason finale.

The Indianapolis Colts, as they welcomed their opponent the Buffalo Bills to their new home, Lucas Oil Stadium, played like a shell of what they typically are around this time of the preseason.  Turnovers doomed the Colts from the onset, not to mention that Buffalo held Indianapolis to only 9 first downs – the end result being a impressive 20-7 win for the Bills.

The Bills scored at opportune times, including a touchdown run by running back Xavier Omon and a 68-yard fumble recovery for a score by cornerback Terrence McGee – courtesy of a fumble by Colts RB Joseph Addai. Colts reserve quarterback Quinn Gray threw 4 interceptions, which contributed to the Bills holding onto the ball for 42 minutes to the Colts’ 18. So as you can tell, the Colts were dominated on both sides of the ball. Both teams lost players during the game – Buffalo losing offensive tackle Langston Walker to a badly bruised left forearm while the Colts lost center Jeff Saturday in the third quarter and kick returner T.J. Rushing in the first quarter – both to knee injuries.

Neither QB who played for the Colts stood out at all; Jared Lorenzen went 7-of-11 for 52 yards while Gray went 8-of-16 for 158 yards with a TD and four INT’s. Addai led the Colts rushing attack with 23 yards on 5 carries; Devin Aromashodu led all Colts receivers with a catch for 94 yards. QB J.P. Losman, replacing injured starter Trent Edwards, went 13-of-19 for 108 yards; Fred Jackson led all Bills rushers with 7 carries for 30 yards. Lee Evans led all Bills receivers with 44 yards on 5 receptions while Josh Reed added 34 yards on 3 receptions. Buffalo play their final preseason game on August 28 as they host the Detroit Lions while Indianapolis plays again – also on August 28 – as they host the Cincinnati Bengals.

Center Jeff Saturday left Sunday’s 20-7 preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills with an apparent knee injury. In the third quarter, Saturday appeared to get his leg rolled up on by several defenders and limped off the field under his own power. He immediately went to the locker room to be evaluated and is expected to undergo an MRI today. Saturday, entering his 10th season, has been named to three Pro Bowls in his career.

Colts quarterback Peyton Manning says he continues to work hard every day to get back to full strength. Manning is coming off off-season knee surgery that has kept him out of the first few weeks of training camp as well as the Colts’ first three preseason games. Manning says rehab is more important than being at practice. He says his goal is to be ready for Week One against Chicago. The 32-year-old threw for 4,040 yards and 31 touchdowns last season. Manning has tossed for at least 4,000 yards in seven of his eight years in the NFL.

Tony Dungy is lending his name to the Indiana Project Safe Neighborhoods campaign. Dungy is appearing in a new public service announcement warning of the results of gang and gun violence. Dungy says the number of people affected by crime drew him into the cause. A part of the television spot shows the coach in front of the house on Hovey Street where two women and two children were shot to death this year. Dungy says houses like the one on Hovey Street are not isolated crime spots. Project Safe Neighborhoods has set up the telephone hotline 327-STOP for quick action on neighborhood crime.