INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts have ruled two players out of Sunday's crucial regular season finale against the Tennessee Titans.
Head coach Frank Reich on Friday said wide receiver Daurice Fountain and center Ryan Kelly will not play in this win-or-go-home road divisional matchup.
The team is hopeful a couple other key players, both on the offensive side of the ball, will be good to go on Sunday, however.
Tight end Eric Ebron, who was knocked out of last Sunday's victory against the New York Giants with a concussion, still has to clear the final hurdle of the league's concussion protocol — being given the OK by an independent neurologist — before he can play against the Titans; Reich said he's "optimistic" Ebron will be good to go.
Reich also said Mark Glowinski, who has missed the last two games with an ankle injury, is expected to return to the starting lineup at right guard on Sunday.
And while Reich was not asked Friday about the status of wide receiver T.Y. Hilton — who once again did not practice this week as he deals with a nagging ankle injury — all previous indications from Reich and Hilton have been that the team's top target will suit up once again on Sunday, barring any setbacks.
» Fountain was labeled as limited with an ankle injury on Wednesday, and did not practice the following day. The Colts' fifth-round (159th-overall) pick in this year's NFL Draft out of Northern Iowa, Fountain played three offensive snaps in his NFL debut Week 14 against the Houston Texans, but was inactive the next two weeks.
» Kelly suffered a neck injury during last Sunday's Giants game and did not practice this week. A Pro Bowl alternate, Kelly this season has played in, and started, 12 games, and is the anchor for a Colts offensive line that has allowed the fewest sacks in the NFL. Evan Boehm could be in line to get his fourth start of the season at center — his his fourth in five weeks.
In all, seven players are labeled as questionable for Sunday's Titans game: Ebron (concussion/knee), wide receiver Dontrelle Inman (shoulder), safety Clayton Geathers (knee), cornerback Nate Hairston (hip), Hilton (ankle), wide receiver Zach Pascal (knee) and defensive end Jabaal Sheard (teeth/knee).
Injury report
Here is Friday's practice report, with their designation for Sunday's game (if applicable):
» DNP: T Anthony Castonzo (knee); WR Daurice Fountain (ankle; out); S Clayton Geathers (knee; questionable); WR Ryan Grant; CB Nate Hairston (hip; questionable); WR T.Y. Hilton (ankle; questionable); C Ryan Kelly (neck; out); LB Darius Leonard (ankle); WR Zach Pascal (knee; questionable); DE Jabaal Sheard (teeth/knee; questionable)
» Limited: S Malik Hooker (hip)
» Full: LB Matthew Adams (groin); TE Eric Ebron (concussion/knee; questionable); G Mark Glowinski (ankle); TE Ryan Hewitt (foot); WR Dontrelle Inman (shoulder; questionable); CB Chris Milton (foot); LB Anthony Walker (shoulder); CB Quincy Wilson (calf)
