INDIANAPOLIS — A hip injury could keep starting tight end Jack Doyle off the field for a while, Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich said on Friday.
Doyle, who suffered, and then played through, the injury during last Sunday's 21-9 victory over the Washington Redskins, has officially been ruled out of this Sunday's Week 3 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.
The Colts will also be without five other players on Sunday: defensive tackle/end Denico Autry, left tackle Anthony Castonzo, running back Marlon Mack, defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway and cornerback Quincy Wilson.
Doyle, 28, is coming off a career year with the Colts, in which he was named to his first-career Pro Bowl. In 15 games, all starts, he established career-highs with 80 receptions for 690 yards, and added four touchdowns.
The Indianapolis native had started the Colts' first two games of this season, catching nine passes for 80 yards. Reich said he suffered the hip injury in the second quarter of last Sunday's game against the Redskins, but played through it.
Doyle on Sunday will be missing just the third game of his career. Reich classified the injury as "week-to-week."
The Colts will rely on the remaining players at the tight end position to try to fill the shoes of Doyle, who is not only a key part of the passing game, but is one of the team's top blockers.
Eric Ebron has been solid in the pass-catching department so far this season, hauling in seven passes for 77 yards and a team-high-tying two touchdowns.
Veteran Ryan Hewitt is solid as a blocker, meanwhile, and played 16 snaps with the Indy offense in his Colts debut last week in Washington.
With an immediate need at the position, the Colts today could make a roster move, Reich said. The team has tight ends Erik Swoope and Mo-Alie Cox available on the practice squad, if needed.
Others out
» Autry, the Colts' starting three-technique along the defensive line, will miss his second straight game with an ankle injury.
» Castonzo has been battling a nagging hamstring injury since before the start of training camp. He re-aggravated the injury early during camp and missed the entire preseason, and was held out of the team's Week 1 matchup against the Bengals as a precaution. But Castonzo re-aggravated the injury once again the following week leading up to the Redskins game. Reich on Friday said Castonzo as of now is not being considered as a candidate for injured reserve, and that the team will continue to closely monitor his progress.
» Mack was also banged up during the Redskins game, but returned. He's been classified with foot and hamstring injuries.
» Ridgeway suffered a calf injury during the game against Washington and didn't return.
» Wilson suffered his injury during the Redskins game and has since been placed in the league's concussion protocol.
Injury report
Here's Friday's full practice report; included is their status for Sunday's game (if applicable):
» DNP: DT/DE Denico Autry (ankle; out); T Anthony Castonzo (hamstring; out); TE Jack Doyle (hip; out); S Clayton Geathers (knee/elbow; questionable); RB Marlon Mack (foot/hamstring; out); DT Hassan Ridgeway (calf; out); CB Quincy Wilson (concussion; out).
» Limited: None.
» Full: T/G Denzelle Good (knee/wrist); WR T.Y. Hilton (quadricep); RB Christine Michael (illness); CB Chris Milton (concussion; questionable).
— Geathers was a full participant on Thursday, but did not practice today. He had a similar pattern last week, but played the entire game against the Redskins.
— It's likely good news that both Hilton (who didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday) and Good (who has been out since the third preseason games) aren't even listed as questionable for Sunday.
