INDIANAPOLIS – It feels like football weather in Indianapolis as cooler temperatures and some misty rain sent the Colts back indoors on Friday for their last practice of the week.
The major news of the week comes with Jerrell Freeman returning to practice and being listed as PROBABLE for Sunday.
Here's a rundown of what Chuck Pagano, Reggie Wayne and Greg Toler had to say on Friday, plus the week's final injury report.
Chuck Pagano on the barometer the Ravens game presents the Colts
"We are playing a really good football team.
"I guess if you listen to everybody, everyone is talking about them as one of the teams in the AFC that if you can find a way to win a game and knock them off, you might find a way to get back into the conversation."
Bowen's Analysis: Listening to Pagano and Colts players, they realize the type of challenge coming on Sunday. These are two of the top three teams in the league right now in point differential and the Ravens lone loss came in a one-possession, Week One contest against the undefeated Bengals.
One thing is clear though that there isn't even a thought to next Thursday's matchup in Houston against the AFC South-leading Texans. Reggie Wayne didn't even drop a hint of thinking ahead to next Thursday and Pagano loved hearing that when a reporter informed him of Wayne's focus on Sunday. Others can look ahead though, and two games in five days will be a stiff challenge for this Colts team.
Reggie Wayne on the amount of film he watches:
"Too much.
"It's interrupting my family life (laughs)."
Bowen's Analysis: Wayne is very candid, especially when talking about these parts of the game. The "Usain Bolt" speed of Wayne isn't there and he knows in order to still play at a high level, he must consume a ton of film.
Wayne admits that he wishes he had watched more film when he was younger, and he even considers it a requirement. When Wayne goes out to eat by himself, he's not all alone as the iPad with the film on it is right there on the table.Greg Toler on the possibility of having Jerrell Freeman back on the field Sunday:
"Jerrell plays a key part in our defense. He's all over the field, dropping as a linebacker underneath the safeties. He's always around the ball. We definitely need him out there."
Bowen's Analysis: After three days of practice, Freeman is listed as PROBABLE for Sunday afternoon. Freeman has been out of the lineup since getting hurt Week One in Denver. It's pretty impressive the Colts defense has played as solid as it has without the services of the leading tackler from the last two years.
Toler said it best on Friday---Free is always around the ball. Last year, Freeman had 5.5 sacks and got his hands on eight turnovers. For a defense always looking for additional playmakers, the return of Freeman could be very beneficial on Sunday.
INJURY NOTES
Here is the Colts final injury report of the week:
-OUT- Art Jones (ankle) and Jack Mewhort (ankle).
-For the third straight week, the Colts will be without a key cog in the middle in Art Jones. Mewhort was ruled out earlier this week.
-PROBABLE- Colt Anderson (groin), Ahmad Bradshaw (rest), Jerrell Freeman (hamstring), D'Qwell Jackson (rest), Andy Studebaker (hamstring), Hugh Thornton (ankle), Reggie Wayne (rest) and Erik Walden (rest).
-Freeman's name is the big one on this list after he practiced all three days this week. All signs point to Freeman rejoining the Colts lineup after missing the last three weeks.
