**Baskett Practices with Colts, Hopes to Play Monday
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**COLTS SIGN VETERAN RECEIVER BASKETT
**
With starting wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez sidelined
with a knee injury for the immediate future, the Colts signed
veteran wide receiver Hank Baskett on Thursday, in hopes the former
Philadelphia Eagle can add needed depth at the position.
After being waived by the Eagles earlier in the week, Baskett signed with the Colts and participated in the team's afternoon practices Thursday and Friday. The fourth-year wide receiver said his first day with the Colts went smoothly, but admitted he has lot of catching up to do.
"I'm going to go out there and do whatever I can to help this organization," Baskett said. "They have a great organization, and I'm excited to be able to come in and have an opportunity like the one that they've given me."
At 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, Baskett is not only the newest, but also the largest wide receiver target quarterback Peyton Manning has at his disposal. Manning stayed after practice with Baskett on Thursday, getting in some extra routes with his newest teammate.
In three NFL seasons with the Eagles, Baskett started 11 of 48 games and accumulated 72 receptions for 1,052 yards and six touchdowns.
With Head Coach Jim Caldwell saying Gonzalez could miss two-to-eight weeks, Caldwell said how much Baskett will play Monday night will depend on how much of the offense he can grasp.
"He's trying to find his way. We are trying to get him caught up as quickly as we possibly can."
In addition to Baskett, Caldwell said the team is confident in the abilities of its younger wide receivers, Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie, to step up in Gonzalez's absence.
"Both of those guys can play, and both can function in the system very well," he said.
As for Baskett, the New Mexico product said he is going to do "whatever it takes" to be able to play Monday night against the Miami Dolphins. The veteran said he is "truly excited" to be a member of an organization "known for winning."
"To leave a good organization and to go to another powerful organization that is known for winning just makes this whole situation that much better," said Baskett.
RUN DEFENSE TAKING SHAPE
After a strong showing in Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Colts' run defense is getting a big boost before its Monday-night showdown against the Dolphins.
The boost will come in the form of defensive tackle Ed Johnson, who the Colts welcomed back earlier this week.
"We are looking forward to getting him back to work," Caldwell said. "We anticipate him getting better and better each week."
Colts President Bill Polian said the team should be in "good shape" at defensive tackle now that Johnson joins a rotation that includes Eric Foster, Dan Muir and Antonio "Mookie" Johnson, who Polian said played "out of this world" against the Jaguars.
"Mookie really stood out," Polian said on his weekly radio show. "He was really something."
Polian said the run defense's performance against the Jaguars showed the Colts are making progress.
"It tells us that what we saw (in the preseason) against Philadelphia – another big-offensive line, power-running team – was not a mirage," he said. "We did well against Philadelphia, and we did that pretty much (Sunday). Anytime you hold (Maurice) Jones-Drew under 100 yards, you're doing a heck of a job … Our guys earned everything they got on the defensive side."
POWERS EXCELS IN STARTING ROLE
Rookie defensive back Jerraud Powers was plenty nervous before the first NFL game of his career last Sunday.
As he was going through pre-game warm-ups, Powers admitted to feeling "a lot of jitters."
"Coming through that tunnel, I had to calm myself down and make sure I played everything smooth," he said.
According to his head coach, the rookie did just that.
Starting alongside cornerback Kelvin Hayden, Powers helped the Colts hold the Jaguars to 122 passing yards on the day. In the second quarter, he came inches away from an interception near the goal line.
"He has maturity beyond his years," Caldwell said of Powers. "He doesn't get rattled. He has a lot of poise and is a smart and extremely hard worker. He's a dedicated guy. He watches his film closely, he's analytical and he has physical tools. You put all that together, and you have a good mixture."
Despite Powers' strong showing through the preseason and Week 1, Caldwell said he wants to remind everyone the 2009 third-round pick is still young.
"He is going to make some mistakes along the way," Caldwell said. "He will have his moments. That is what will happen with most young players in this league."
But Caldwell hinted that Powers might not be like most young players. The Colts coach said he saw Powers break on the ball very well against the Jaguars.
"He did a nice job out there for his first time out," he said.
FRIDAY INJURY REPORT
The Colts released Friday's injury report with offensive tackle Charlie Johnson (back) and defensive back Jamie Silva (abdomen) listed as full participation in practice and wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez (knee), guard Jamey Richard (shoulder), tight end Tom Santi (ankle) and defensive backs Tim Jennings (not injury related-rested) and Bob Sanders (knee) listed as did not participate in practice.
