INDIANAPOLIS —Fortunately for the Indianapolis Colts, Denzelle Good's stint on injured reserve might not end up lasting very long.
The Colts' tackle/guard could return to the practice field as soon as this week, less than a month and a half after he was placed on IR with a wrist injury, head coach Chuck Pagano said on Monday.
Pagano said he expects both Good and safety Clayton Geathers — who is yet to play this season after undergoing offseason neck surgery — to return to practice on a "limited, limited basis" this week.
"So it'll be good to get those guys out there," Pagano said.
Good started at right tackle in the Colts' 2017 season opener against the Los Angeles Rams, but subsequently had to undergo surgery to correct what Pagano said was a ligament issue in his wrist.
Prior to suffering that injury, Pagano said Good had worked his way into "the best shape … he's been (in)" with the Colts.
"He can move pretty well," Pagano said. "He's got good balance. He's got good feet, good punch in pass pro. He's strong in the run game. He can move people."
Per NFL rules, two players per team are eligible to start practicing again as soon as six weeks after being placed on IR during the season; they can be placed back on the active roster as soon as two weeks after they make their return to practice.
Should Good return to the active roster, the Colts would have the ability to return one more player from their IR list to game action this season. Possible candidates for that designation include tight end Mo Alie-Cox, who underwent a knee scope in August, and tackle/guard Jack Mewhort, who also underwent surgery for a knee injury suffered in Indianapolis' Week 5 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
Updates on Kelly, Simon, others
Pagano also had updates on several key players who suffered injuries during Sunday's loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars:
• Safety Malik Hooker will be out for the year after injuring his ACL and MCL in the second quarter of Sunday's game. The rookie Hooker had nabbed a team-best three interceptions this season prior to his injury.
• It's better news for center Ryan Kelly, whose hamstring injury "wasn't as bad as we thought," Pagano said. Kelly could be a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.
• Outside linebacker John Simon is "going to miss some time" after suffering a stinger, but "I don't know how much," Pagano said. Simon is the team's leader in sacks (3.0).
• Cornerback Rashaan Melvin, who suffered a concussion on the first drive of the game, enters the league concussion protocol.
• Pagano also said quarterback Andrew Luck, who missed practice last week after experiencing some soreness in his surgically-repaired right shoulder, will also not practice this week.
