Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (oblique) said he feels "way better compared to last week," and was a limited participant in the Colts' first practice of Week 6 on Wednesday.

Richardson, who missed the Colts' Week 5 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, said he's hopeful he can play on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium – but cautioned he's taking a day-by-day approach to recovering from the injury he sustained against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 4.

"That's what I'm hoping," Richardson said. "So hopefully everything keeps progressing and I'm able to be out there Sunday."

Richardson went through a workout a few hours before kickoff in Jacksonville, which he was encouraged by.

"We didn't even know I was gonna be able to do what I was able to do out there, so that was a plus for us," Richardson said. "We felt good about that going into this week. Just trying to stack those days."

Running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle) did not participate in practice Wednesday.

"He's working through it," head coach Shane Steichen said. "He's looking good. We'll see how the goes with him. Hopeful that he'll be out there. We'll see."

Center Ryan Kelly (neck), cornerback Kenny Moore II (hip, shoulder) and defensive end Kwity Paye (quad) all returned to practice on Wednesday. Kelly was a full participant while Moore and Paye were limited.

Paye has missed the Colts' last two games after sustaining his injury against the Chicago Bears in Week 3; Moore, Richardson and Taylor were injured in Week 4. Kelly popped up on the Colts' injury report ahead of their Week 4 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers and has missed each of the Colts' last two games.

While the Colts did get some encouraging news Wednesday with a few players participating in practice, the Colts were without wide receivers Michael Pittman Jr. (back) and Josh Downs (toe), as well as right tackle Braden Smith (knee, ankle) and running back Trey Sermon (collarbone).

The Colts already know they, against the Titans, will be without several key players who are on injured reserve: Defensive end Samson Ebukam, cornerback JuJu Brents, defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, defensive end Tyquan Lewis and guard Will Fries. Having so many key players out, though, is not an excuse the Colts are willing to use.

"The reality is the other team does not care who you don't have out there," linebacker Zaire Franklin said. "They're not going to not run the ball because you don't got DeForest Buckner. They're actually going to. That's on the guys that take his spot to step up and make a play, and that's on the guys we depend on to make one more play."

Buckner, who was placed on injured reserve prior to Week 3, will be eligible to be activated from injured reserve ahead of Week 7's home game against the Miami Dolphins, though he could remain on IR longer. Players placed on injured reserve must miss a minimum of four games (which is why Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will not play against the Colts in Week 7 and Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins won't play against the Colts in Week 8).

Ebukam, who sustained an Achilles' injury early in training camp, was on roster cut-down day designated as a player who could return from injured reserve this season. General manager Chris Ballard in August cautioned it was a "long shot" Ebukam could return, though if there's any chance he could play this year – however slim – it was worth keeping the door open for the Colts' leading sack-getter in 2023.

Steichen has previously said Brents and Lewis could have the chance to return at some point this season as well.

Wednesday's practice report: