INDIANAPOLIS – Borderline balmy weather (for December) greeted the Colts at their final practice of Jaguars week.
Sunny skies and temperatures nearing 60 was the forecast on Friday ahead of temps in the 80s for what they will see on Sunday afternoon in northern Florida.
Here are some sound bites from Chuck Pagano meeting the media on Friday.Chuck Pagano on if D'Qwell Jackson (questionable) will play Sunday:
"You know D'Qwell, I know D'Qwell.
"D'Qwell is going to play."
Bowen's Analysis:* *That quote from Pagano should sum up the "questionable" outlook for Jackson on Sunday. Pagano said Jackson (quad) was just rested on Friday and the head coach clearly expects the NFL's leading tackler to be in the middle of the Colts defense this weekend.
Jackson won't have Jerrell Freeman next to him though. Without Freeman, the popular names are Sio Moore (who filled in for Freeman for a bulk of last Sunday's loss in Pittsburgh) and Josh McNary (four starts last season) to fill in next to Jackson.
Chuck Pagano on if Greg Toler can't go, will Darius Butler slide to the outside:
"We will keep (Butler) in that (slot) role."
Bowen's Analysis: Toler practiced on Friday (limited), his first on-the-field action of the week. He's been dealing with a couple of injuries this season and his latest is his knee.
Under the hypothetical that Toler has to miss Sunday's game, the Colts will be keeping Darius Butler in that slot/nickel role. That means rookie D'Joun Smith could get his first NFL start after making his professional debut three weeks ago in Atlanta. If it's not Smith, the recently signed Jalil Brown would start. Brown started three games earlier than this season when Butler was hurt.The message on the shirt of Chuck Pagano Friday:
"It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get back up."
Bowen's Analysis: Pagano began this week talking about how the Colts must be "all in" for a critical four-game stretch to close the regular season. He ended it Friday with the same message, and even had some tangible evidence to back it up.
Pagano pulled out actual poker chips from his pocket on Friday when he once again brought up the "all in" mentality of his football team. You don't need to remind Pagano, or his players, of where they stand in the AFC South. They know the standings and how important this one is on Sunday afternoon.**
INJURY NOTES**
Here is Friday's injury report:
- OUT: OLB-Daniel Adongo (not injury related), OT-Anthony Castonzo (knee), ILB-Jerrell Freeman (hamstring/ribs), QB-Andrew Luck (abdomen/kidney)
-Castonzo, Freeman, Luck will be three key injuries to watch next week with Houston coming to town. Castonzo has said he expects to be ready for next Sunday.
- DOUBTFUL: OLB-Erik Walden (foot)
-Walden did not practice all week.
- QUESTIONABLE: S-Colt Anderson (ankle), C-Khaled Holmes (fibula), ILB-D'Qwell Jackson (quad), CB-Greg Toler (knee)
-The Anderson injury is significant. He's the captain of the Colts special teams unit.
- PROBABLE: WR-Phillip Dorsett (ankle), QB-Matt Hasselbeck (neck/back), OG-Hugh Thornton (elbow), WR-Griff Whalen (hamstring)
-Hasselbeck was a full participant in practice all week. Dorsett could see his first game action since the Saints game in late October.
