LONDON – How did the Colts know they were in London on Friday?
Well, they saw their largest media contingent of the season at practice, players admitted to feeling a bit more groggy than normal after their day of work and, oh yeah, Andrew Luck was offered a German schnitzel during the middle of his Friday press conference.
Welcome to life across the pond, Colts.
Staying about 30-to-45 minutes outside of London, the Colts had a busy Friday after landing in the UK at 6:30 a.m.
Fresh off the red eye flight, there was no time to rest for the Colts.
An early stretch, followed by meetings and a one-hour practice dominated the morning and early afternoon, as the Colts tried to stay on their feet Friday in adjusting to the five-hour time difference.
Here is a look at the final injury report of the week and what Chuck Pagano, Andrew Luck and Kendall Langford had to say to the large media gathering on Friday:
INJURY STATUS FOR WEEK FOUR
- OUT: CB-Darius Butler (hamstring): Butler did not practice all week after suffering a grade one hamstring injury against Denver. This is Butler's second straight game missed.
- OUT: OG/C-Jonotthan Harrison (appendectomy): Harrison had an emergency appendectomy earlier this week. He could miss a week or two.
- OUT: WR-Donte Moncrief (shoulder): The original diagnosis for Moncrief had him missing four-to-six weeks with a fractured scapula. This is his second consecutive game missed.
- QUESTIONABLE: WR-Jacoby Brissett (ankle): A new name appeared on Friday's injury report. Dorsett was limited in practice. He has not been dealing with any injury so far this season.
- QUESTIONABLE: T-Denzelle Good (back): For a second straight day, the starting right guard was limited at practice. Good missed last week's game against San Diego. He will be evaluated very closely up until game-time.
- QUESTIONABLE: Joe Reitz (back): You could write virtually the same thing for Reitz, that is written above for Good. Reitz, the team's starting right tackle, was limited in practice on Thursday and Friday. Reitz left last Sunday's game in the second quarter. If the Colts have to look to their bench for different starters up front on Sunday, the versatile Joe Haeg is the top option. After Haeg, you have seventh-rounder Austin Blythe in the interior and third-rounder Le'Raven Clark at tackle. All three of those options are rookies.
Chuck Pagano on where his team is at physically after the eight-hour flight to London, which landed Friday morning:
"We kept them busy. We encouraged them to stay up the rest of the afternoon, get to bed around eight, nine o'clock and try to get on this time zone."
Bowen's Analysis: Anthony Castonzo was pretty candid in how he felt when the Colts landed in London at 6:30 a.m. on Friday. "Felt like death," was how Castonzo described himself physically after an eight-hour red eye where sleep was the goal, but not the easiest thing to achieve.
An hour-long practice later on Friday did get the blood flowing though for the players and Castonzo admitted he felt much better after some physical activity on the field. Players also had a chance to hop on a bus for a tour of London on Friday afternoon, a time period that is always free to the players during a normal week of work back in the United States. One aspect of this trip that has eased things for the Colts has been the amenities at hand at the Colts' team hotel. The practice field is right across the parking lot and it has a Training Camp feel with not having to get on buses for meetings or practice.Andrew Luck on not throwing at Friday's practice and this "plan" of work each week for him in 2016:
"I feel really good, really fresh, jumping out of my skin ready to play."
Bowen's Analysis: The UK media was out in full force on Friday trying to get some footage of No. 12. Luck did not throw on Friday, as he wraps up another week of the plan for keeping his right shoulder as fresh as possible for Sunday's this season.
Luck did say he felt a little more tired than normal on Friday, but knows that the game adrenaline of Sunday will turn that around pretty quick. Expect plenty of family for Luck in attendance on Sunday. Luck grew up in Europe for nine years of his life, including living in London and attending grade school just a few miles from Wembley Stadium.
Kendall Langford on last year's game with Jacksonville:
"They flat out embarrassed us (51-16). We didn't like it. It's still in the back of your head.
"They dropped 50 on us. That's not cool at all."
Bowen's Analysis: Yes, there is a game on Sunday and it's a big one for several reasons. The biggest being it's the first divisional game for the Colts in 2016. In the NFL's nine-year history of games played in London, divisional contest overseas have been rare.
The Colts certainly remember last year in Jacksonville. "They beat our butts good," is how Chuck Pagano recalled it on Friday. Pagano and the Colts will have three divisional matchups in the next four weeks. Pagano was asked again on Friday about not taking the bye week after London. The head coach said the Colts will stick with a normal prep schedule next week in hosting the Bears. After landing in Indianapolis after midnight come early Monday morning, the Colts will come in for film review later on Monday, before having their usual Tuesday off day.
FRIDAY'S INJURY REPORT
Here is Friday's injury report from London:
-DNP: CB-Darius Butler (hamstring), C/G-Jonotthan Harrison (illness) and WR-Donte Moncrief
-LIMITED: WR-Phillip Dorsett (ankle), OG/OT-Denzelle Good (back), QB-Andrew Luck (right shoulder) and OT-Joe Reitz (back)
-FULL: RB-Frank Gore (rest), WR-T.Y. Hilton (knee), ILB-D'Qwell Jackson (rest), OLB-Robert Mathis (rest), CB-Patrick Robinson (concussion) and OLB-Erik Walden (rest)
Photos from day 1 of practice in London