Colts Gab

With the Super Bowl a week away, there’s some sad news that has started already for the Colts. Star defensive end Dwight Freeney had a torn ligament which would make it difficult for him to play in the Super Bowl against the high-powered offense of the New Orleans Saints.

“He is under the care of our athletic training staff,” Team Spokesman Craig Kelley said. “Nothing we have seen changes our diagnosis that he is questionable. He has a third-degree, low basketball sprain.”

It means Freeney has a complete tear in the ankle ligament. I see the Dwight playing. I doubt he will not play this game. 100 percent, actually. But even if Freeney does play in my mind, it’s going to be questionable of how effective he will be.

“He has had injuries before where they said [he's] not going to play and he has come back,” Colts tight end Dallas Clark said during the Pro Bowl. “He is a competitor, he is one of the toughest guys on our team and I never expect him to miss anything.”

I think Freeney will be alright. It would be horrible without him. The Colts will lose another important player to squad. There was Bob Sanders and Marlin Jackson. Don’t let it be Dwight this time. Especially if it’s Super Bowl time.

Don’t worry.

Colts starting cornerback Marlin Jackson tore his ACL on the final play of practice Wednesday and will be out for the season, a team source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Thursday. Jackson is expected to have surgery next week. Jackson’s contract expires at the end of the season and he is scheduled to become a free agent.

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

Today’s Indy Star is reporting that starting corner Marlin Jackson is ahead of schedule on his comeback from knee surgery. “I’m pretty far ahead of schedule,” he said this week. “Originally, the things (doctors) were telling me were devastating to hear. Now, I know I’ll be ready for training camp. No doubt.” He tore two ligaments in his right knee during practice back last October, but looks good and would give the Colts D a big lift should he be able to get on the field come training camp in July.

The season of injuries for the Indianapolis Colts continues, as NFL.com is reporting today that starting CB Marlin Jackson is going to miss the rest of the season after suffering a season-ending injury in Wednesday’s practice. Jackson tore both his ACL and meniscus cartilage in his knee that will force him to have at least one, possibly two surgeries.

He has started seven games this season for the Colts, and has made 41 tackles. The team could get Bob Sanders back this week, but losing Jackson will be a big blow to the secondary. It was two seasons ago that Jackson made the clinching pick in the AFC Title game when the Colts rallied to top the Pats, the team they will play Sunday night on Sunday Night Football.