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INDIANAPOLIS – With an outdoor road game this weekend, the Colts headed into the elements on Wednesday for practice.
It was quite a long injury list for the Colts with 12 guys missing practice.
Here are a few sound bites from Chuck Pagano and Trent Richardson on Wednesday:
Chuck Pagano on if the Colts will only prepare for Brian Hoyer this week after he was named the starter on Wednesday:
"We better do our due diligence. We'll prepare for the starter (Hoyer) but they can put (Manziel) in at any point. We'll have a plan."
Bowen's Analysis:* *For the second straight week, the Colts won't see the much more ballyhooed signal caller. The Colts will see Brian Hoyer as the starting quarterback in Cleveland despite Johnny Manziel finishing last week's loss to the Bills.
Hoyer has led Cleveland to a 7-5 record and helped the Browns be in a playoff position, a place fans in that area haven't seen in recent years. Without top pass catchers Josh Gordon and Jordan Cameron for a bulk of the season, Hoyer has been productive. Recently thought he's struggled a bit, completing just over 50 percent of his passes the last three weeks. Colts assistant Rob Chudzinksi was the Browns head coach last year and Hoyer was his starter for three games so there's some familiarity there in regards to the Colts preparation this week.
Chuck Pagano on getting Dwayne Allen back to practice:
"Obviously, having Dwayne back it gives you that option (using multiple tight end sets in the pass game), that flexibility."
Bowen's Analysis: For the first time in two weeks, the Colts got Dwayne Allen back on the practice field. Allen returns from the ankle injury he suffered during the Patriots game on November 16.
Allen's versatility is such a key, unique, element to the Colts offense. He's been a tremendous threat in the red zone for the Colts this season, catching seven touchdowns. People shouldn't forget what Allen's presence in the run game also means. The Colts tight ends have found a ton of success in the passing game lately and now it looks like Allen will be added to that mix.Trent Richardson on returning to Cleveland:
"I don't want to say this is a revenge game but there's going to be a lot of emotion going into this game."
Bowen's Analysis: For the entire open locker room session on Wednesday, Richardson fielded questions about his recent play and the return to Cleveland. Richardson admitted that he's not pleased with how he's played in recent weeks but believes his "time is due."
This weekend, Richardson will head back to Cleveland and see the franchise that took him No. 3 overall in the 2012 draft before trading him the following season. Physically, Richardson says he feels close to 100 percent after the hamstring injury he suffered against Cincinnati (a game where Richardson ran for a season-high 77 rushing yards). Cleveland's defense is ranked 29th against the run so the opportunity would seem to be there for the Colts running game this weekend.
INJURY NOTES
Here is the injury report for Wednesday:
-DNP- Mike Adams (back), Josh Cribbs (knee), Vontae Davis (concussion), D'Qwell Jackson (rest), Arthur Jones (illness), Zach Kerr (illness), Xavier Nixon (foot), Cory Redding (knee), Andy Studebaker (hamstring), Hugh Thornton (knee), Erik Walden (rest) and Reggie Wayne (rest).
-Davis is the key name on this injury report. Pagano said Davis is still undergoing the concussion protocol. With Cleveland wide receiver Josh Gordon back in the lineup, a healthy Davis would go a long way in the Colts trying to neutralize one of the game's most electric pass catchers.
-LIMITED- T.Y. Hilton (hamstring)
-Hilton has appeared on injury reports before this season and has yet to miss a game.
-FULL- Dwayne Allen (ankle)
-The best news from the injury report came from Allen returning to practice as a full participant. Having Allen on Sunday would help the Colts in all phases of the offense.
