INDIANAPOLIS – The Colts will have to wait until Saturday to find out the status of Pro Bowl cornerback Vontae Davis.
With Davis' status yet to be finalized, the Colts have ruled five players out for Sunday's trip to Lambeau Field.
Here is the Friday notebook with Chuck Pagano recapping the week of practice.
INJURY STATUS FOR WEEK NINE
- OUT: S-Mike Adams (groin): It's not often Adams misses games (he's missed just three since 2010), but a groin injury kept him off the field all week.
- OUT: OLB-Chris Carter (hamstring): Carter, who has played mostly special teams in two games with the Colts, missed all of practice this week.
- OUT: DE-Kendall Langford (knee): The Colts are shutting Langford down for some time as he hasn't gotten completely back from a preseason knee scope. This will be Langford's second straight game missed.
- OUT: G-Jack Mewhort (tricep): Mewhort will miss his third straight game.
- OUT: OT-Joe Reitz (concussion): With Joe Reitz out, the Colts will once again have to improvise up front. Expect the lineup to look like how the group finished Sunday: LT-Anthony Castonzo, LG-Jonotthan Harrison, C-Ryan Kelly, RG-Denzelle Good and RT-Joe Haeg.
- QUESTIONABLE: TE-Dwayne Allen (ankle): Barring any setbacks, Allen should be okay to play on Sunday. Pagano said Allen is not 100 percent though.
- QUESTIONABLE: DE-Henry Anderson (knee): Could Anderson be returning or the first time in two weeks? Anderson last played against Houston in Week Six.
- QUESTIONABLE: CB-Vontae Davis (concussion): The Davis' update is below.
- QUESTIONABLE: OG-Denzelle Good (knee): While Jack Mewhort and Joe Reitz are OUT, Good will be starting at right guard this weekend.
- QUESTIONABLE: OLB-Curt Maggitt (ankle): Maggitt should be back for the first time since Houston in Week Six.
Chuck Pagano on Vontae Davis needing to progress through the concussion protocol:
"He obviously passed the first part of it.
"He will go through the trainers (Friday afternoon) and do the second to the last phase of the protocol (with pads on). If he gets through that clean, which we anticipate, he will see an independent (neurologist on Saturday) and hopefully be cleared and be ready to go."
Bowen's Analysis: Pagano explained it pretty clearly how the Colts will monitor's Davis' situation the next 24 hours. If Davis passes the portion with athletic trainers on Friday, which the Colts expect him to do, then an independent neurologist on Saturday will be the final hurdle for Davis.
It goes without saying how needed Davis is in a week like this one. The Colts have already ruled out safety Mike Adams, the quarterback of the secondary. With Adams out, rookie T.J. Green will get his second NFL start. Chuck Pagano said on Friday that the Colts will still use their three-safety package in dime looks with undrafted rookie Matthais Farley being used as an extra defensive back.Chuck Pagano on his message this week:
"There's an emphasis on the first five minutes of the first quarter, the first five minutes of the third quarter, the last five minutes of the first half, the last five minutes of the game.
"We've got to play steady for the whole 60 minutes, but there's a huge emphasis on those 20 minutes."
Bowen's Analysis: Starting and ending halves have been a problem for the Colts in 2016. It's a clear key this week from the head coach. Particularly, the Colts have had several opportunities late in first halves for some scores. Those have been squandered.
Going into Green Bay this weekend, the Packers are tremendous at home in getting off to fast starts. In their last 19 games at Lambeau Field, the Packers have outscored opponents 185-22 in first quarters. That's an average of a two-score lead for Green Bay by the end of the game's first 15 minutes.
Chuck Pagano on Aaron Rodgers:
"Aaron makes the thing go. He's a phenomenal football player with a ton of talent.
"He can beat you from the well but when he gets outside, he can (also) extend plays."
Bowen's Analysis: The Packers are getting healthier, but they will again be missing some important guys on offense. Running back James Starks and tight end Jared Cook have been ruled OUT. Multi-purpose receiver Randall Cobb has practiced, but his status is a little more in doubt. Why the Packers have been able to overcome the injuries on offense is thanks to Rodgers (obviously) and the versatility of the receivers, allowing Green Bay to use them in unconventional ways.
On Friday, Pagano also wanted to talk about the unit that doesn't receive a bunch of attention. Green Bay's defense ranks top 10 in several important categories. Pagano calls the Packers' front seven "unblockable" which makes things even more difficult for a Colts' offensive line dealing with its sixth different starting lineup this season.**
INJURY REPORT**
Here is Friday's injury report:
-DNP: S-Mike Adams (groin), OLB-Chris Carter (hamstring), DE-Kendall Langford (knee), G-Jack Mewhort (tricep), OT-Joe Reitz (concussion), OLB-Erik Walden (rest)
-FULL: TE-Dwayne Allen (ankle), DE-Henry Anderson (knee), CB-Vontae Davis (concussion), WR-Jacoby Brissett (rest), OG-Denzelle Good (knee), RB-Frank Gore (rest), WR-T.Y. Hilton (hamstring), ILB-D'Qwell Jackson (rest), QB-Andrew Luck (right shoulder), OLB-Curt Maggitt (ankle), OLB-Robert Mathis (rest), WR-Chester Rogers (hamstring, foot)
