INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich said today that punter Rigoberto Sanchez has been ruled out of Sunday's Week 14 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium.
Left tackle Anthony Castonzo, linebacker Bobby Okereke and defensive tackle/end Tyquan Lewis, meanwhile, are questionable.
RULED OUT
» Sanchez publicly revealed Nov. 30 that he had been diagnosed with cancer; he reported the following day that the surgery to remove a cancerous tumor had "went well." Reich has said that there isn't a set timetable for Sanchez's potential return, but is optimistic that he can get back to game action this season. The team last week Thursday signed eighth-year veteran punter Ryan Allen to its practice squad, and he made his Colts debut last Sunday against the Houston Texans, punting five times for 235 yards (47.0 average; 38.0 net average), with one being downed inside the 20-yard line, and also holding serving as the holder for one Rodrigo Blankenship field goal and three extra-point attempts.
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QUESTIONABLE
» Castonzo suffered a sprained MCL in his right knee early in the second quarter of the Colts' Week 12 loss to the Tennessee Titans, and did not return. The 10th-year veteran did not participate in practice the following week, and was inactive for last Sunday's Week 13 victory over the Houston Texans. Castonzo did not practice again on Wednesday, but returned as a limited participant for Thursday's practice, and was limited again on Friday. If he is limited or can't play once again on Sunday against the Raiders, then Chaz Green is a likely candidate to take over at left tackle; Le'Raven Clark, who started in Castonzo's place at left tackle last Sunday against the Texans, suffered a season-ending Achilles injury early in the ballgame and replaced by Green. The team also has second-year veteran tackle Will Holden — who was signed off the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad on Thursday — on its active roster, as well as undrafted rookie tackle Carter O'Donnell on its practice squad, if needed.
» Lewis initially appeared on the injury report on Wednesday with a hip issue; he did not practice on Wednesday, and was a limited participant on Thursday before participating fully on Friday. If he's limited or can't play Sunday against the Raiders, then Al-Quadin Muhammad, Kemoko Turay and, if active, Ben Banogu, are candidates to get more playing time off the edge, while Taylor Stallworth could see more time in Lewis' place in the interior. The Colts also have three defensive tackles — Kameron Cline, Chris Williams and Rob Windsor — on their practice squad if needed.
» Okereke first appeared on the injury report with an ankle issue on Nov. 25, and has missed the last two games against the Tennessee Titans and the Houston Texans. He returned to practice on Wednesday, and was a limited participant all three days of practice this week. If he's limited or can't play again on Sunday against the Raiders, then the Colts could once again elect to add more to fellow starter Anthony Walker's plate — Walker has played 100 percent of the defensive snaps the last two weeks — while Zaire Franklin, Matthew Adams, E.J. Speed and Jordan Glasgow will also be ready to go at the linebacker position if needed.
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Injury report
Here is Friday's practice report, with their designation for Sunday's game (if applicable):
| Player | Position | Injury | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Game Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denico Autry | DT/DE | Not Injury Related | DNP | FP | FP | — |
| Trey Burton | TE | Not Injury Related (Rest) | DNP | FP | FP | — |
| Anthony Castonzo | T | Knee | DNP | LP | LP | Questionable |
| Justin Houston | DE | Not Injury Related (Rest) | DNP | FP | FP | — |
| Tyquan Lewis | DT/DE | Hip | DNP | LP | FP | Questionable |
| Philip Rivers | QB | Toe | DNP | FP | FP | — |
| Rigoberto Sanchez | P | Illness | DNP | DNP | DNP | Out |
| Khari Willis | S | Back/Quad | DNP | LP | FP | — |
| Bobby Okereke | LB | Ankle | LP | LP | LP | Questionable |
| Braden Smith | T | Groin | LP | FP | FP | — |
| Kemoko Turay | DE | Ankle | LP | LP | DNP | — |
| Anthony Walker | LB | Ribs | LP | FP | FP | — |
| Jack Doyle | TE | Not Injury Related (Rest) | — | DNP | FP | — |
| Mo Alie-Cox | TE | Not Injury Related (Rest) | — | — | DNP | — |
| Julian Blackmon | S | Not Injury Related (Rest) | — | — | DNP | — |
| DeForest Buckner | DT | Hip | — | — | DNP | — |
| T.Y. Hilton | WR | Not Injury Related (Rest) | — | — | DNP | — |
| Darius Leonard | LB | Not Injury Related (Rest) | — | — | DNP | — |
