INDIANAPOLIS – Wednesday's Colts practice had a Training Camp-like feel to it.
The Colts currently have five quarterbacks on their active roster, a very high number for the regular season.
A quartet of them practiced on Wednesday, with Josh Freeman and Ryan Lindley the likely options to start in Sunday's regular season finale.
Here are a few sound bites from Chuck Pagano and Andrew Luck meeting the media on Wednesday:
Chuck Pagano on the quarterback situation:
"We've got to see the next two days and then make a decision (on Sunday's starter)."
Bowen's Analysis:* *Listening to Chuck Pagano on Wednesday, it sounds like the Colts will go with either Josh Freeman (60 career starts) or Ryan Lindley (six starts) come Sunday. The Colts head coach continually refereed to the "both" of them at his Wednesday presser getting up to speed and a decision on a starter might not come until game day. Pagano joked that some players thought Wednesday was Training Camp-like with five quarterbacks in red jerseys (Matt Hasselbeck did not practice).
What Pagano does know about Sunday is he's going to see a Titans defense really loading the box. Pagano believes whoever the Colts starting quarterback is in Week 17, he will look across at a defense with sometimes 9 and 10 guys near the line of scrimmage. The Colts starter is inevitably going to have to make plays with his arm for the Colts to have any chance at the playoffs.
Chuck Pagano on wanting another contract in Indianapolis:
"I will fight my ass off to be the coach here."
Bowen's Analysis: Pagano, who is in a contract year, was once again very loose when meeting the media on Wednesday. He told the media Wednesday that he joked with his brother (Chargers defensive coordinator John Pagano) about wanting him to lose on Sunday so one of the Colts nine scenarios can fall into place.
The Colts currently sit at 7-8, with five of those wins coming with Matt Hasselbeck starting. That's tied for the most wins in the NFL for a team starting a reserve quarterback. Like he has at nearly every presser this season, Pagano lauded the efforts he's received from his players and the coaches, despite so much adversity surrounding them in 2015.Andrew Luck on being ruled out for Sunday's season finale:
"Football players want to play football.
"You feel like you are letting teammates down. You watch Matt and Charlie battle and fight. You watch Frank Gore play his butt off game in and game out. You want to be out there with those guys."
Bowen's Analysis: As you would expect, Andrew Luck was pretty disappointed when he found out that a Week 17 return wasn't an option. His role, again, this week will be more from a coaching focus.
Chuck Pagano said Luck still hasn't been cleared for team drills at practice and won't get those reps this week, so that's the reason for already ruling him out on Wednesday. With Luck out, the Colts will start a quarterback other then their franchise guy for a ninth time this season come Sunday at 1:00 p.m. EST.
INJURY NOTES
Here is Wednesday's injury report:
- DNP: TE-Dwayne Allen (calf), S-Colt Anderson (ankle), CB-Darius Butler (hip/knee), LB-Trent Cole (concussion), S-Winston Guy (hamstring/shoulder), QB-Matt Hasselbeck (shoulder), WR-Donte Moncrief (toe)
-The Colts will not put Hasselbeck or Andrew Luck on IR, in the chance that the team extends into the postseason, when those two could return to the game action.
- LIMITED: TE-Jack Doyle (toe), ILB-Jerrell Freeman (hamstring), WR-T.Y. Hilton (calf), QB-Andrew Luck (abdomen/kidney), OLB-Erik Walden (foot)
-Hilton is a new addition to the injury report this week after he battled injuries earlier this year.
ROSTER NEWS
On Wednesday, the Colts elevated tight end Erik Swoope to the 53-man roster from the practice squad and placed tight end Dwayne Allen on the Injured Reserve list.
Swoope, the former collegiate basketball player, has been on the team's practice squad for the last two seasons.
Allen's fourth season in the NFL has once again been about battling injuries, while enduring a diminished role. He has 16 catches in just 29 targets this season.
