INDIANAPOLIS – With honorary captain "Turbo Tatin" breaking down the practice huddle Friday afternoon (see below), the Colts concluded their on-the-field work for Atlanta.
The Colts will be without the NFL's leader in interceptions versus the Falcons. Mike Adams (ankle), who didn't practice all week, won't make the trip down to the Peach State.
Here are some sound bites from Chuck Pagano and Robert Mathis meeting the media Friday:Chuck Pagano on not having Mike Adams this weekend:
"It's all hands on deck. We'll use them all."
Bowen's Analysis: The ankle injury that sent Adams to the locker room against Denver has lingered enough to keep him out of Sunday's contest in Atlanta. Adams missed all of practice this week and will miss just his second game since 2010.
Chuck Pagano would not say who would start at safety, next to Dwight Lowery, but Colt Anderson did get that nod against New Orleans, when Adams was out earlier this year. Pagano is looking forward to rookie cornerback D'Joun Smith making his NFL debut this weekend. A knee injury has kept Smith sidelined for the first 10 weeks of his rookie season.Chuck Pagano on Andrew Luck's role for Sunday:
"He'll travel with us. He'll be on the sideline. We'll keep him out of harm's way, but he'll be there.
"It's another set of eyes. He's great for the quarterbacks obviously, first and foremost. It's like having another coach on the field."
Bowen's Analysis:* *Luck has officially been ruled out for the first time in his NFL career. Earlier this year, Luck wasn't ruled out for the games against Jacksonville and Houston until right before kickoff.
On Tuesday (the 24th), that will mark the two-week point of the "two-to-six" week timetable the Colts gave for Luck when they first announced his injury. Luck is attending practices and will obviously travel with the team this weekend.
Robert Mathis on heading back to his hometown of Atlanta this weekend:
"In the end, it's a business trip."
Bowen's Analysis: Mathis is heading back to his hometown this weekend for his first game down there since 2007. Mathis attended high school less than 10 miles from the Georgia Dome and has secured 60 tickets for his family on Sunday.
While the Vontae Davis/Julio Jones matchup is garnering the deserved headlines this week, Mathis and the Colts pass rush will obviously play a role in helping that cause. The Colts and Falcons rank near the bottom of the NFL in sacks this season so you know that was a bye week focus for both teams.**
INJURY NOTES**
Here is the final injury report
- OUT: S-Mike Adams (ankle), WR-Phillip Dorsett (ankle), QB-Andrew Luck (abdomen/kidney)
-Dorsett remains week-to-week.
- QUESTIONABLE: ILB-Josh McNary (groin)
-McNary was a new addition to the injury report on Friday and did not practice.
- PROBABLE: ILB-Nate Irving (limited), ILB-D'Qwell Jackson (hamstring)
-Jackson missed the first two days of practice but returned to the field on Friday. Irving had a setback with his knee, but has been back on the field this week at practice.
