Colts Rest Defensive Ends in Regular-Season Finale
INDIANAPOLIS – As expected, the Colts will rest some key players Sunday.
The group that will rest in the regular-season finale includes the starting middle linebacker, as well as three Pro Bowl defensive players.
Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, a pair of starting defensive ends who made the Pro Bowl this season, were declared inactive shortly before kickoff of the Colts' game against Tennessee at Lucas Oil Stadium Sunday, as was two-time Pro Bowl safety Bob Sanders.
Gary Brackett, the Colts' starting middle linebacker and defensive captain, was declared inactive for a fourth consecutive game with a fibula injury.
The Colts' other gameday inactives:
Safety Melvin Bullitt (shoulder), backup running back Dominic Rhodes (chest), linebacker Freddy Keiaho (hamstring) and defensive tackle Eric Foster.
With Sanders and Bullitt out, fourth-year veteran Matt Giordano made his first start of the season at safety, one of several pregame lineup changes for Indianapolis.
Dan Muir started for Foster at defensive tackle, with Antonio Johnson starting at the other tackle in place of Keyunta Dawson. Five-year veteran Josh Thomas started in place of Freeney.
At linebacker, Buster Davis started a fourth consecutive game in the middle in place of Brackett and fourth-year veteran Tyjuan Hagler started in place of Keiaho.
Also, linebacker Rufus Alexander was waived and running back Lance Ball was signed off the practice squad.
