POWERS PLACED ON INJURED RESERVE AND A FAMILIAR FACE RETURNSThe Colts announced on Tuesday that second-year defensive back Jerraud Powers has been placed on injured reserve with an arm injury.
Powers started 10 games in 2010 and had 53 tackles, two interceptions and a team-best nine passes defended.
With that open roster spot, the Colts signed a familiar face to the team: free agent running back Dominic Rhodes.
"This is how I feel about being here with the Colts: this is playing with my family," Rhodes said late Tuesday afternoon. "It wasn't, 'Man, I have to go here and get to know somebody.' It was come here, fit back in with my family and go make plays. That's why they brought me here and it is an easy transition for me."
Rhodes was a key component through many of the Colts' seasons from 2001-06 and also in 2008.
As a rookie in 2001, he rushed for 1,104 yards and nine touchdowns, becoming the first undrafted free agent in NFL history to rush for more than 1,000 yards. In seven seasons with the Colts, Rhodes rushed for 2,812 yards and 25 touchdowns, including five 100-plus-yard games.
During the Colts' 2006 playoff run, he was instrumental in their success against the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI, rushing for 113 yards on 21 carries and scoring one touchdown in the Colts' 29-17 victory. In their four post-season games, Rhodes averaged 4.9 yards for a total of 306 yards.
After spending the 2007 season with the Oakland Raiders, Rhodes rejoined the Colts in 2008, rushing for 538 yards on 152 carries in 15 games.
Rhodes spent this season with the Florida Tuskers of the UFL, setting single-season records in rushing yards (547) and touchdowns (10) while leading the Tuskers to the championship game.
Through his eight-year NFL career, Rhodes has 3,114 yards on 777 carries with 26 touchdowns and 146 receptions for 1,021 yards and four touchdowns.
"I just think that I will be able to provide some steady veteran leadership, just steady play," Rhodes said. "That's what I've always been, just a steady player. I will go out there and make plays when I have to and do the dirty work when I have to. That's what I'll bring."
TUESDAY QUOTES
Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell on if the short week is good or bad for the team: "I think it is a good thing. I think that there are some benefits. I know physically it puts us through a real test that we have to certainly have a quick turnaround. From a mental approach, oftentimes it is better to get back out on the practice field a little sooner and have an opportunity to play a game a little more quickly. I think there are some plusses and minuses to it."
Indianapolis wide receiver Pierre Garcon on what a victory over the Titans would do for the mindset of the Colts: "It would be good for the morale of the team to get the guys back some energy and happy, get some 'W's' back in this locker room. That's what we are used to around here. It's very important."
Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney on Tennessee and Titans running back Chris Johnson: "It becomes one of those basic games where they know what we are going to do, we know what they are going to do and it just comes down to that technique and fundamentals and who works harder longer. I do know that (Johnson) is dangerous and that he has the potential to take any type of run and run it back. It is going to take a total team defensive effort to stop him. It is up to all of the guys on defense even more than usual to make sure they are focused on staying in their gap and make sure that they are not over pursuing because this guy is a home run hitter. Anytime he can have that long run, that can be devastating to a defense."
Colts linebacker Gary Brackett on facing Chris Johnson, Maurice Jones-Drew, Darren McFadden and Johnson again in the last four games: "It is the same old thing, and that is gap defense. Stay in your gap, do your job and make plays when you have the opportunity to make them. Across the board we just have to do a better job getting that done, and I think we will. I would think (that the last four games will come down to stopping the run). Obviously, that's been our Achilles heel of not being able to stop the run."
