The Indy Star reports that Donald Brown and Reggie Wayne could miss this weeks game for the Colts:
Neither Colts RB Donald Brown nor wide receiver Reggie Wayne practiced. Team president Bill Polian told NFL Network that while Brown is unlikely to play this week, Wayne probably would miss only a day or two of practice ahead of the San Francisco 49ers’ visit to Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday. Like Brown, Wayne (strained groin) was hurt Sunday at St. Louis.
It seems like these days that as certain as there is a sunrise and a sunset, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning will usually provide a good effort – week in, week out. During Sunday’s game agaisnt the St. Louis Rams, it would prove to be no different as Manning threw 3 touchdown passes, allowing Indianapolis to remain undefeated in routing St. Louis 42-6 at the Edward Jones Dome.
The Colts, as they typically do, got an early 7-0 lead in the first quarter as Manning conected with wide receiver Reggie Wayne on a 6-yard TD pass with 8:50 left in the opening period; the Rams would get on the scoreboard nesrly 3 and one-half minutes later as kicker Josh Brown converted on a 30-yard field goal. Indianapolis would score at the 3:31 mark of the quarter on a 27-yard Manning-to-tight end Dallas Clark TD pass, increasing their lead to 14-3 going into the second quarter.
The second period was much quieter, although the Colts would score yet again on a 6-yard TD run by running back Joseph Addai, further extending their lead to 21-3 which they would take to their locker room at halftime.
The Panthers would begin the scoring at the beginning of the third quarter as Brown booted a 45-yard FG with 5:07 left in the quarter, reducing their deficit to 15, but then the route was on for Indianapolis. The Colts’ defesne would get involved in the scoring as cornerback Jacob Lacey would take an interception by Rams QB Marc Bulger 35 yards for a score, padding the Colts advantage to 28-6.
The fourth quarter was all Colts as they would score twice in the period – once on a TD pass from Manning to Austin Collie and a 31-yard TD run by reserve RB Chad Simpson.
Manning, predictably, had another good game as he went 23-of-34 for 235 yards and 3 TD’s while Bulger went 14-of-26 for 140 yards and 2 INT’s. Both teams did well in the rushing department; the Colts, led by Joseph Addai’s 64 yards and a score along with Donald Brown’s 58 yards on only 2 rushes, rushed for 156 yards while the Rams were led by Steven Jackson who ran for 134 yards on 23 carries.
Wayne led all Colts receivers with 7 receptions for 83 yards and a score while Clark caught 3 for 44 and a TD. WR Donnie Avery led the Rams receivers with 2 receptions for 58 yards. Indianapolis (6-0) look to extend their winning streak into next week as they welcome the San Francisco 49ers to Lucas Oil Stadium while St. Louis (0-7) look for their first win of the season when they travel to Detroit to take on the Lions – also next Sunday.
Indianapolis: PK Adam Vinatieri, WR Anthony Gonzalez, QB Curtis Painter, C Jamey Richard, CB Marlin Jackson, RB Mike Hart, CB Tim Jennings, OL Tony Ugoh.
St Louis: WR Brandon Gibson, DL James Hall, OG John Greco, CB Justin King, QB Keith Null, OT Phillip Trautwein, OG Roger Allen, WR Ruvell Martin.
The Colts are undefeated, and now they may be close to getting even better, as one of their top playmakers on defense could be returning. Safety Bob Sanders is hoping to make his season debut Sunday at St. Louis.
The 2007 NFL defensive player of the year, who has not played in a game since January, is expected to participate in most of the team’s practice work this week. For the first time this season, Sanders was not listed on the team’s injury report Wednesday.
“He’s improving,” coach Jim Caldwell said. “He’s been ramping up his activity over the last three weeks and we anticipate he will be able to do something for us (Sunday).”
It’s not the first time Indy (5-0) has indicated Sanders could play. The two-time Pro Bowl safety returned to practice and traveled with the team to Nashville for the Oct. 11 game. But with a bye last week, the Colts opted to hold Sanders out.
Sanders missed all of training camp, all he preseason and the first month of the regular season after surgery on his right knee. The Colts were hoping he’d be back sooner than six weeks, which is why they did not save a roster spot by putting him on the physically unable to perform list.
But now, it appears, Sanders is close to playing shape.
“I feel better than I’ve felt in a long time,” Sanders said Wednesday. “I feel excited about that and I’m ready to get in there. But we’ve not made that decision (about playing) yet.”
If ever there was a time for the Indianapolis Colts to have their bye week, perhaps Week 6 would be the ideal time. Peruse the defensive part of the team roster and then you will see why I submit this week as optimal for the team’s health.
The list of the walking wounded is not of the short variety either: cornerback Kelvin Hayden, offensive tackle Charles Johnson, safety Bob Sanders, CB Marlin Jackson and wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez. The Colts haven’t really suffered offensively with A-Gon’s absence; however, the Colts secondary will be vastly improved with the inevitable return of Sanders and Hayden.
Speaking of inevitable returns, both Hayden and Johnson have assured people that they will be ready for next Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Rams. Assuming that is the case, it would be welcome news as the Colts’ run defense has on a weekly basis gotten better while Hayden’s presence will also prove beneficial to the secondary.
As for Sanders, it is still not clear when his return will be although there have been whisperings about a possible return on September 25; injured for nearly half of his 85-game professional career, Sanders has had a limited practice schedule for the past two weeks. Team head coach Jim Caldwell seems to be a bit optimistic about Sanders’ return soon:
“He is hungry, there’s no question about that. I think he’s been preparing diligently. He looks good out there. He’s moving around. He looks like Bob. So we’re all anxious. When he gets comfortable with where he is and what he’s doing, we’ll get him in there at some point in time.”
In the meantime while the aforementioned players rest and heal, the Colts secondary will need to continue their inspired play. Key contributions by safety Melvin Bullitt and rookie CB’s Jerraud Powers and Jacob Lacey will need to continue in order for the Colts to continue winning games.
Johnson’s return is crucial as his fill-in, second-year OT Tony Ugoh, has struggled as of late in protecting Peyton Manning’s blind side – as evidenced from last week when the Tennessee Titans’ Kyle Vanden Bosch had his way against Ugoh.
When Gonzalez returns, what is already a dangerous offense will be even more so; big contributions by Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie have been a major reason for the team’s undefeated start. That doesn’t minimalize what Reggie Wayne has done at all; however, since Reggie is double-teamed, having the safety valves (Garcon and Collie) have made Manning’s job that much easier. Although to be fair, tight end Dallas Clark has made opposing teams’ linebackers and secondaries’ lives miserable, too.
Bottom line here? When the secondary returns reasonably healthy, that is when you will see a Colts’ team that is truly dangerous, week-in, week-out. The offense cannot do it alone, nor should they have to.
Photo: Adam Good, Indianapolis Colts
The Indy Star reports that the Colts have again waived starting DT Ed Johnson
The Indianapolis Colts waived starting defensive tackle Ed Johnson for unknown reasons Tuesday in a roster move that will deprive an improving defense of arguably its best run-stuffing lineman. The team declined comment, but Johnson’s name appeared on the league waiver wire. A team spokesman said any comment on roster moves would be made today. It’s the latest in a series of setbacks for the talented-but-troubled Johnson. The third-year pro had been given a second chance this season after a 2008 release, prompted by an arrest for marijuana possession and speeding. The team cut him after one regular-season game last year. The release likely means the end of his career and is a major blow for an unbeaten team playing its best defense.
At the risk of sounding biased (after all, I am a 35 year+ fan of the Indianapolis Colts), the team from the Midwest is off to one of its best starts ever, despite the fact that they have a marginal running game, at best. Although the season is 5 games old, I cannot determine the reasons for the Colts’ success, except for Peyton Manning’s amazing numbers.
Nonetheless, the Colts had a game to play against a Tennessee Titans squad that is removed from last year’s 13-3 team. And interestingly enough, the current Tennessee squad isn’t much different than the one from last season. Same team, same head coach – it is hard to figure out what happened to them. Anyways, the Colts visited LP Field Sunday in a matchup between an undefeated and a winless team.
From what I observed during the nationally televised game, I have no idea what happened to the Titans. Granted, the Titans didn’t rush for 100 or more yards against the Colts (90 tonight), but I can say with a fair amount of certainty that Peyton Manning’s effort – three touchdowns – made the Titans chances of winning minimal, at best. Manning’s 3 TD passes along with a anemic offensive performance by the Titans allowed Indianapolis to continue their domination as they destroyed Tennessee 31-9.
The first quarter was actually competitive as Tennessee kicker Rob Bironas’ two field goals – 49 and 43 yards – kept the Titans to within 7-6 after one quarter. The second quarter was actually the Peyton Manning quarter as he led the Colts on a pair of drives, of which they would score twice – once on a 1-yard TD run by Joseph Addai and a Manning-to-Austin Collie TD pass of 39 yards which would pad the Colts’ lead at 21-9, a lead they would take into halftime.
Manning and Collie would hook up again on a 6-yard TD pass, increasing the Colts’ cushion to 28-9; Indianapolis kicker Adam Vinatieri’s 23-yard FG with 7:32 reamining in the game would effectively put the Titans away foir good.
Vince Young did make an appearance for the Titans late in the game, although he did go 0-for-3. Manning yet again had a great efort, going 36-for-44 for 309 yards with 3 TD’s and an interception while Kerry Collins had another mediocre game, going 19-for-32 for 164 yards with an interception.
Neither team stood out in the rushing department as Addai rushed 14 times for 27 yards with a score while the Titans’ LenDale White rushed for 51 yards on 10 carries. Collie led all Colts receivers with 97 yards on 8 receptions and 2 TD’s while Dallas Clark caught 9 passes for 77 yards; Reggie Wayne grabbed six passes for 60 passes in a supporting role.
Tight end Bo Scaife led the Titans receiving corps with 4 receptions for 45 yards while Nate Washington caught three passes for 37 yards. Indianapolis (5-0) will now rest as it goes into its bye week and will not play again as they travel to St. Louis to face the Rams on October 25 while Tennessee (0-5) flies to Foxboro, MA to take on the New England Patriots next Sunday.
There’s some good and bad news regarding Indianapolis Colts safety Bob Sanders. I’ll start with the good news first; Sanders did practice for the third time this week on Friday. Now the bad news; the safety was listed as doubtful for the Colts’ game against the Tennessee Titans this Sunday. According to NFL rules, the term “doubtful” means that there is a 75% chance the player in question will not play – therein lies the uncertainty.
To further add to the mystery of Sanders’ availability this weekend are statements made by both Colts head coach Jim Caldwell and Sanders; first Caldwell:
“Not real sure at this point.”
Ummm, ok. What say you, Bob?
“Not sure yet. We haven’t made a decision on that. If you hear anything, you’ll hear it from coach Caldwell.”
Sanders further added:
“I feel good. I haven’t really had any problems. I’ve got a lot more work to do. I’m getting my time in, (getting his defensive) fits and all that stuff back to where it has been and just keep going. As long as we don’t have any setbacks, I think I’m going to be cool.”
Fortunately for the Colts, they have a bye week next week, so regardless of whether Sanders plays Sunday or not, the extra week will without a doubt allow him to rest and get further healed. While it would be preferable that Sanders play at 100%, not having him out there will not change things much. The Titans, by and large, subsist on ther running game and will probably attempt to exploit the Colts’ improving run defense.
So the presence – or lack thereof – of Sanders isn’t going to change very much the overall game plan of the Colts, although it would be very helpful for the secondary to heal up as it is very unlikely that Kelvin Hayden and Marlin Jackson will play agaisnt Tennessee.
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Mike Chappell, of The Indianapolis Star, reports Indianapolis Colts CB Jerraud Powers and CB Tim Jennings are expected to start in Week 5.
