INDIANAPOLIS – Most coaches wouldn't be in such a jovial mood just minutes after announcing all seven of his inactives on a Friday.
But the "eternal optimist" in Chuck Pagano was alive and well on Friday, even with the injury report the longest it has been all season long.
Here is the Friday notebook with a look at who will not play Sunday, and the players needed to step up against the Titans:
INJURY STATUS FOR WEEK SEVEN
- OUT: TE-Dwayne Allen (ankle): It's a week-to-week injury for Allen after he missed all of practice this week.
- OUT: DE-Henry Anderson (knee): A knee injury on Sunday didn't force Anderson out of the game. However, he's now going to miss some time because of it. This is not the same knee that Anderson tore his ACL in last season.
- OUT: WR-Jacoby Brissett (foot, hamstring): Dorsett told reporters that he thinks he will be ready to go next week versus Kansas City. Dorsett missed all of practice this week.
- OUT: DT-Zach Kerr (ankle): Pagano has listed Kerr at "week-to-week." Kerr, who didn't play last week against Houston, missed all of practice this week.
- OUT: OLB-Curt Maggitt (ankle): It's a week-to-week injury for the undrafted outside linebacker who left Sunday's game early. Maggitt didn't practice all week.
- OUT: G-Jack Mewhort (tricep): Mewhort played the entire game on Sunday, but missed all of practice this week. Chuck Pagano believes Mewhort should be good to go for next week's home matchup against the Chiefs.
- OUT: WR-Donte Moncrief (shoulder): The original diagnosis for Moncrief had him missing four-to-six weeks with a fractured scapula. This is the fifth consecutive game missed for Moncrief and he has yet to practice since hurting his shoulder.
- QUESTIONABLE: CB-Darius Butler (calf, hamstring): Butler missed Wednesday and Thursday, but was limited at Friday's practice.
- QUESTIONABLE: S-T.J. Green (knee): Green was a full participant at Friday's practice.
- QUESTIONABLE: C/G-Jon Harrison (illness): The appendectomy forced Harrison to miss the last three weeks. He's practiced all this week.
- QUESTIONABLE: WR-T.Y. Hilton (hip): Hilton, like every guy on this questionable list, will be active on Sunday.
Chuck Pagano on who will start for Jack Mewhort at left guard:
"Joe Haeg has been working there."
Bowen's Analysis: For the fifth time in seven games this season, the Colts will have a different offensive line. Look for rookie Joe Haeg to start at left guard, in place of Jack Mewhort. It will be Haeg's third different starting spot he's lined up at in 2016. With Haeg moving inside, Joe Reitz is the likely guy to start at right tackle, a place he started for the first three games this year.
Chuck Pagano spoke on Friday about how impressed offensive line coach Joe Philbin has been with Haeg's ability to play multiple spots as a rookie. Haeg is a clearly a piece to this offensive line's future (along with the present). Haeg never played guard at any level of football before the NFL. Sunday will mark his second start at guard (one at left guard, one at right guard).Chuck Pagano on the health of the wide receivers going into this week:
"We are in great shape at receiver and I think all those guys are going to play great this week."
Bowen's Analysis: Of the seven healthy pass catchers for Andrew Luck on Sunday, four played in this year's preseason finale (Chester Rogers, Mo Alie-Cox, Chase Coffman and Tevaun Smith). One played for the Cowboys in their final preseason game. One is T.Y. Hilton. And one is Jack Doyle.
What does all that mean? The Colts will have a bunch of new faces catching balls from Luck this weekend. Pagano did credit Luck for how much extra time the quarterback has put in before/after practice and in the meetings rooms in making sure the inexperienced skill guys feel ready to go for a game that has just a slightly bigger impact than a preseason finale.
Chuck Pagano on the play of the offensive line and the run game:
"I see progress.
"We are running the football better every week."
Bowen's Analysis: The Colts are missing three of their top four pass catchers and their best offensive lineman this week. One thing the Colts will definitely have to lean on this weekend is Frank Gore, and a ground game that has been pretty productive in recent weeks.
If you're Tennessee defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, you are going to do everything you can to not let T.Y. Hilton or Gore beat you. A heavy dose of Gore makes plenty of sense from the Colts' standpoint, given how banged up Andrew Luck's pass catchers are in Week Six.
INJURY REPORT*
Here is Friday's injury report:**
-DNP: TE-Dwayne Allen (ankle), DE-Henry Anderson (knee), WR-Phillip Dorsett (foot, hamstring), DT-Zach Kerr (ankle), OLB-Curt Maggitt (ankle), G-Jack Mewhort (tricep), WR-Donte Moncrief (shoulder), OLB-Erik Walden (rest)**
-LIMITED: CB-Darius Butler (calf, hamstring), C/G-Jonotthan Harrison (illness)**
-FULL: S-Mike Adams (rest), CB-Vontae Davis (rest), RB-Frank Gore (rest), S-T.J. Green (knee), WR-T.Y. Hilton (hip), ILB-D'Qwell Jackson, DE-Kendall Langford (rest), QB-Andrew Luck (right shoulder, ankle), OLB-Robert Mathis (rest), CB-Patrick Robinson (hip)*
