Colts Gab

Seems like these two are always locking up on the last game of the preseason, yet here they are again. This will be the final tuneup before the regular season begins in earnest one week from Thursday as the Indianapolis Colts visit the Cincinnati Bengals.

I think it is a very safe assumption – and in concurrence by team head coach Jim Caldwell – that the first-team offense and defense will not see much playing time on Thursday. The game will definitely allow the team to work out the kinks from their loss to the Detroit Lions last week and to provide a final evaluation of the team’s younger players and reserves before making the final cuts.

According to Caldwell,

“We feel pretty good about where (the offense is) right now. Obviously, you want to be perfect. You want every drive that you take the field to culminate with a touchdown. That has not happened this preseason, but we’ve been pretty efficient.”

Performance-wise, starting quarterback Peyton Manning is his usual self (23-for-31 for 296 yards with three TD’s and no interceptions). And despite the final score last week, the team looked as sharp as they have all preseason, which should bode well as they go into Cincinnati with the vast majority of players who will make the squad already determined.

But if anything, the defensive line will bear watching Thursday as in my humble opinion, this is where the Colts’ Achilles heel has been, especially at nose tackle. so while the game is important, September 5 is even more so as that is the day that all NFL teams have to pare their roster to 53.

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.

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.

The big bit of news out of Indianapolis Colts training camp comes from Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star as he is reporting that quarterback Peyton Manning is on schedule regarding his rehabilitation to his left knee; that is the word from team head coach Tony Dungy.  Manning has missed the entire training camp (25 workouts) and he has not talked to any media outlets nor been available while continues his recovery from surgery to his left knee to remove an infected bursa sac.  The indication is that Manning is on track to possibly be cleared to practice around August 25.  In other Colts news…

• Manning is one of 6 Colts currently on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list; the team expects defensive end Dwight Freeney, safety Bob Sanders and maybe rookie tight end Tom Santi to begin practicing next week.  Guard Ryan Lilja may need an additional week to fully recover from off-season knee surgery; linebacker Tyjuan Hagler is expected to remain out until at least October.
• Offensive tackle Tony Ugoh returned to practice Thursday morning after missing Wednesday’s practice with a bruised knee.  Offensive tackle Ryan Diem has missed 3 consecutive practices and will not play Saturday night when the Colts face the Atlanta Falcons due to a minor shoulder injury.  Cornerback Kelvin Hayden suffered a bruised heel during Thursday’s practice, but it isn’t believed to be a serious injury.
• A limited number of tickets for the Colts’ two home preseason games – August 24 against the Buffalo Bills and August 28 against the Cincinnati Bengals – are available; they can be purchased right here.