WESTFIELD, Ind. — The Indianapolis Colts will play their starters "about a quarter" in Saturday's second preseason game against the Cleveland Browns, head coach Frank Reich said today.
That should be an incremental increase from the Colts' first-team action seen in the team's preseason opener against the Buffalo Bills. In that game, most of the starting offensive players played 11 snaps (about 14 percent of the snaps in all), while a good chunk of starters on the defensive side of the ball played anywhere from eight to 11 snaps.
Reich also expects several players who did not play against the Bills to make their preseason debuts against the Browns. Among those who sat out in Buffalo were wide receiver T.Y. Hilton, cornerback Kenny Moore II, running back Marlon Mack, safety Clayton Geathers, tight end Ross Travis, linebacker Ben Banogu, linebacker Darius Leonard, tackle Anthony Castonzo, center Ryan Kelly, tight end Jack Doyle, tight end Eric Ebron, defensive tackle/end Denico Autry and defensive end Justin Houston.
"Right now the general plan is for everybody to play," Reich said. "There may be an exception to that; we may at the last minute choose to make an exception. But for right now the plan is for everybody to play.
"Those guys who didn't play the first game, getting them a series or two just to feel it out there in a game situation (would be ideal)," he added.
Reich said it's "highly unlikely" guard Quenton Nelson, who has missed time lately with an ankle injury, will play Saturday, however.
The Colts and Browns kick off at 4 p.m. ET Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
