INDIANAPOLIS – New Year's Day practice for the Colts was one they hope isn't their last one of the season.
The Colts will head into the weekend of their regular season finale without knowing who their starting quarterback will be in Week 17.
Here are a few sound bites from Chuck Pagano and Andre Johnson on Friday:
Chuck Pagano on if he's named a starting quarterback for Sunday:
"No."
Bowen's Analysis:* *For the third straight day at practice, Josh Freeman and Ryan Lindley split the reps in front of the media. The Colts still aren't tipping their hand of who will be the starting quarterback opposite Zach Mettenberger and the Titans on Sunday.
It will be a watered down Colts offensive playbook for whoever is under center this weekend. The Colts starting quarterback in Week 17 will be a guy who hasn't played in the NFL this season and didn't even join the team until earlier this week. That is beyond rare in the NFL.
Andre Johnson on the uniqueness of two quarterbacks splitting reps in Week 17:
"It is different when you have guys come in this time of year that you are not familiar with.
"It's kind of crazy because you have no timing. You have to go out and basically just play and try to see what happens."
Bowen's Analysis: Johnson has been in the NFL for 13 years and even with all the quarterback turnover he's dealt with, this week is unlike any other for him.
The unknown of what you are going to get out of the quarterback on Sunday makes Johnson's comment even truer. At times on Sunday, it could look like some backyard football with the Colts playmakers having to do their part to help the offense move.Chuck Pagano on getting Frank Gore to 1,000 yards:
"The win is the most important thing.
"(But) it would sure be nice if that came along with it."
Bowen's Analysis: For Frank Gore to get to 1,000 yards, the Colts will have to end a streak that dates back more than three years. It's been 55 games (playoffs included) since the Colts last had a 100-yard rusher.
Gore is 109 yards short of 1,000 on the season, a number no Colts running back has reached since Joseph Addai in 2007. Getting Gore even close to 100 on Sunday would be quite the accomplishment when you factor in the Colts lack of experience at quarterback and the Titans actually being a pretty solid run defense.
INJURY NOTES
Here is Friday's injury report:
- OUT: LB-Trent Cole (concussion), QB-Matt Hasselbeck (shoulder), QB-Andrew Luck (abdomen/kidney)
-Luck remained a limited participant at practice this week.
- QUESTIONABLE: S-Colt Anderson (ankle), S-Winston Guy (hamstring/shoulder), ILB-Sio Moore (knee)
-Anderson and Guy are two of the Colts best special teams players.
- PROBABLE: S-Mike Adams (knee), CB-Darius Butler (hip/knee), TE-Jack Doyle (toe), ILB-Jerrell Freeman (hamstring), WR-T.Y. Hilton (calf), OG-Jack Mewhort (illness), WR-Donte Moncrief (toe), OLB-Erik Walden (foot)
-Mewhort was back at practice on Friday after missing Thursday's session.
ROSTER MOVES
On Friday morning, the Colts waived wide receiver Griff Whalen from the Injured Reserve list.
Whalen was originally placed on the injured reserve list after suffering fractured ribs in the Week 15 loss to the Texans.
