INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts will be without three players on offense and two defensive players when they take on the Buffalo Bills on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Head coach Frank Reich today said defensive tackle/end Denico Autry, tight end Jack Doyle, safety Clayton Geathers, wide receiver Ryan Grant and running back Robert Turbin have all been ruled out of Sunday's Week 7 matchup.
» It'll be the second straight week the Colts will be without Autry, who suffered a hamstring injury Week 5 against the New England Patriots. Indy's starting three-tech at defensive tackle, Autry also missed two games earlier in the season with an ankle injury.
» Doyle will be missing his fourth straight game on Sunday, meanwhile, as he continues to deal with a hip injury, which he suffered Week 2 against the Washington Redskins. Reich said this week Doyle has made good progress, but did not give a timetable for his potential return to the practice or game field.
» Geathers was knocked out of the Patriots game with a concussion and a neck injury, and will miss his second straight game. Geathers had been able to return to the practice field for a day last week, and for two days this week, but Reich indicated Friday the team is remaining cautious with him.
» Grant suffered an ankle injury last Sunday against the New York Jets and did not participate in practice this week. He'll snap a 69-game consecutive games-played streak, which is currently fourth among active NFL wide receivers.
» Turbin was knocked out of last Sunday's game against the Jets with a shoulder injury, and also did not practice this week. His absence once again leaves the Colts with just three healthy running backs in Marlon Mack, Nyheim Hines and Jordan Wilkins.
Hilton, Leonard update
The Colts are hoping that their top wide receiver, T.Y. Hilton, will be able to go after missing the last two games with chest and hamstring injuries.
Hilton was a full participant at Wednesday's practice, limited on Thursday and back to full on Friday. Reich is cautiously optimistic about Hilton's chances of playing on Sunday against the Bills, saying he's "pretty encouraged" with his progress.
Another key weapon, this time on the defensive side of the ball, wasn't out at practice on Friday — but it doesn't seem like it's much of an issue.
Reich said rookie linebacker Darius Leonard — the NFL's leader in tackles — did not practice today due to a "lingering" issue, but added it shouldn't get in the way of him taking the field against the Bills.
Leonard suffered, and played through, an ankle injury Week 4 against the Houston Texans, and missed the Colts' next game, four days later, against the Patriots. He made his return last Sunday against the Jets and had eight tackles and a forced fumble.
Injury report
Here is Friday's practice report, with their designation for Sunday's game (if applicable):
» DNP: DT/DE Denico Autry (hamstring; out); TE Jack Doyle (hip; out); WR Ryan Grant (ankle; out); LB Darius Leonard; RB Robert Turbin (shoulder; out)
» Limited: S Clayton Geathers (concussion/neck; out); CB Arthur Maulet (hip; questionable); TE Erik Swoope (knee; questionable)
» Full: T/G Denzelle Good (not injury related); WR T.Y. Hilton (chest/hamstring); DT Margus Hunt (knee); CB Chris Milton (hamstring; questionable); DT Al Woods (not injury related — rest)
