INDIANAPOLIS — Two days after opening the preseason schedule with several players stuck on the sidelines, the Indianapolis Colts hope to see at least some reinforcements return to the field this week.
Colts head coach Chuck Pagano said Monday that he hopes to "get a good bunch of those guys back," some as early as today, when the team resumes training camp practices with an afternoon session at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center.
But, Pagano cautioned, "we will have to ease them in."
"They'll be on pitch counts," he continued. "We'll have to manage their reps."
Among those listed by Pagano as having a chance to return this week includes offensive linemen Joe Haeg, who has been with the starting unit at left guard during camp, and Denzelle Good, a key player at both guard and tackle.
Rookie running back Marlon Mack, meanwhile is hoping to return today "with some limited action.
Defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins — one of the key free agent pickups for the Colts this offseason — could also see increased reps this week after being held out of Sunday's preseason opener against the Detroit Lions as a precaution. Hankins injured his ankle during practice on Aug. 5, but has since been slowly worked back into practice reps.
"Hankins is doing much better. He probably could have played (Sunday)," Pagano said. "That was me; I didn't want to play him because he didn't have the practice time under his belt coming off of his injury that he sustained earlier so hopefully we will get him back."
At the center position, starter Ryan Kelly remains out with a foot injury, and while Pagano said Monday Kelly is "trending in the right direction" and is "doing (well) with his rehab," he still doesn't have an immediate timetable on his return, and remains week-to-week. Backup center Brian Schwenke, meanwhile, who has been on the PUP list since the start of training camp, also with a foot injury, continues to progress well, Pagano said, "but he is still not back."
Pagano will next address reporters after today's practice, which is set to begin around 1:45 p.m.
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