INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts' depth at the safety position continues to be tested.
Head coach Frank Reich said today that starting strong safety Clayton Geathers has been placed in the league's concussion protocol after he developed symptoms following Sunday's loss to the Oakland Raiders at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Geathers joins starting free safety Malik Hooker on the team's injury report; Hooker suffered a knee injury two weeks ago against the Atlanta Falcons and is expected to be out a few weeks. Geathers is also the second Colts defensive starter currently in the league's concussion protocol; linebacker Darius Leonard has missed the last two games, but Reich said today the second-year All-Pro is making progress.
Geathers played all 67 snaps in Sunday's matchup against the Raiders, and finished with nine tackles. The fifth-year veteran this year is third on the team with 19 tackles and he also has one of the team's two interceptions.
Should Geathers miss any game action, the team currently has two safeties that will be counted on to take over in George Odum and Rolan Milligan. Odum played 12 defensive snaps on Sunday against the Raiders, and had 28 tackles (one for a loss) with an interception and two passes defensed as a rookie last season, while Milligan has two special teams tackles so far for Indy through four games.
Reich today also mentioned third-year cornerback Quincy Wilson as a possibility at the safety position if needed, while rookie Khari Willis is playing at free safety in place of Hooker.
"We feel good about the depth we've got there," Reich said Monday in his weekly conference call with reporters.
Worth monitoring
Two other Colts players — both on the offensive side of the ball — will also be monitored this week after suffering injuries against the Raiders.
Running back Marlon Mack suffered an ankle injury and missed most of the fourth quarter, while wide receiver Parris Campbell briefly exited the game with an abdominal injury but was able to return.
Mack, who entered the Oakland game ranked third in the NFL and first in the AFC with 299 rushing yards, played just 28 snaps against the Raiders, and finished with 11 rushing attempts for 39 yards.
Campbell, meanwhile, played 49 snaps on offense and three on special teams, and finished with five receptions for 25 yards.
