INDIANAPOLIS — Anthony Castonzo was able to make his return to the practice field this week, but his 2018 debut will have to wait at least one more game.
Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich confirmed Friday that Castonzo, the Colts' starting left tackle, is one of five players who are ruled out of Sunday's game against the Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium.
In all, three players on offense are out: Castonzo, tight end Jack Doyle and tackle/guard Joe Haeg. Two defensive players also will not play: defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway and cornerback Quincy Wilson.
Castonzo suffered a hamstring injury before the start of training camp, and re-aggravated the injury not soon after returning to the practice field a few days into camp. He missed the entire preseason and was held out of the team's 2018 regular season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals as a precaution, but then suffered another setback with his hamstring the following week as the team prepared for their Week 2 matchup against the Washington Redskins.
Castonzo on Thursday returned to the practice field for the first time since Sept. 12, and on Friday was able to put in back-to-back days at practice for the first time since early-August. Le'Raven Clark is expected to get the start in Castonzo's place for a third straight week on Sunday, and then the team faces a short week before traveling to Gillette Stadium to take on the New England Patriots on Thursday Night Football.
Doyle (hip), Ridgeway (calf) and Wilson (concussion) will be missing their second straight games on Sunday. Haeg — the team's starting right tackle — suffered an ankle injury in last Sunday's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and could miss multiple weeks, Reich said Monday. All four players did not practice this week.
Doyle will miss back-to-back games for the first time in his career on Sunday.
Mack looking better
Another player who returned to the practice field this week was running back Marlon Mack, who also has been battling a nagging hamstring injury.
Mack originally suffered the injury in the Colts' preseason opener Aug. 9 and missed the rest of the preseason, as well as the Bengals game. He returned to start Week 2 against the Redskins, but would only play into the third quarter of that game and did not practice or play last week.
Reich said today Mack, who has been a limited participant in practice since his return on Wednesday, has been "making progress," but will have to decide whether or not he'll play Sunday in the hours leading up to the game. The second-year running back is officially questionable for the contest.
Injury report
Here's Friday's full practice report; included is their status for Sunday's game (if applicable):
» DNP: TE Jack Doyle (hip; out); S Clayton Geathers (knee; questionable); T/G Joe Haeg (ankle; out); DT Hassan Ridgeway (calf; out); CB Quincy Wilson (concussion; out)
» Limited: T Anthony Castonzo (hamstring; out); RB Marlon Mack (hamstring, questionable); LB Anthony Walker (groin; questionable)
» Full: DT/DE Denico Autry (ankle); DE Tarell Basham (not injury related); TE Eric Ebron (shoulder/knee); S Malik Hooker (hip/groin); QB Andrew Luck (groin); DT Al Woods (quadricep)
