INDIANAPOLIS – It's a short week in the Colts world and that means Wednesday was time to get back on the practice field for a two-hour, full-padded session.
The Colts will practice each of the next two days before they head to Jacksonville on Saturday afternoon for Sunday's divisional opener.
Here's a rundown of some Wednesday headlines from Chuck Pagano and Andrew Luck.
Chuck Pagano on Khaled Holmes being a full participant at Wednesday's practice:
"We looked at (Holmes) last week. He got some work last week and felt really good coming out of that work so we plugged him in with the first unit today and he got the lion's share of the reps with the ones today."
Bowen's Analysis: This was the next step for Holmes after he was limited at practice for much of the past two weeks. Getting the bulk of the first team reps on a Wednesday is a good start to the week for Holmes.
Pagano mentioned that seeing how Holmes responds to his first full practice in more than a month will be key to watch on Thursday. A.Q. Shipley also got some first team reps on Wednesday. If Holmes can make it through this week of practice and start on Sunday, the Colts will have the expected starting line they thought they would have back in late July (following the injury to Donald Thomas).
Chuck Pagano on what he wants to see from Bjoern Werner and the Colts pass rush:
"Just got to keep working. Just got to keep practicing to get better.
"It will come."
Bowen's Analysis: Werner is less than 48 hours removed from battling Eagles All-Pro left tackle Jason Peters on Monday night. At the other outside linebacker spot, Erik Walden had a productive evening off the edge with Werner stymied by one of the league's best.
Now, Werner heads back to Jacksonville, the place of his first career NFL sack. The Jaguars are currently dealing with some change on their offensive line and have given up 13 sacks in the first two games of the season. It's clear that Pagano is more than confident in Werner beginning to turn that high motor into direct results very soon.Andrew Luck on the sense of urgency this week:
"There's definitely a sense of urgency, a high sense of urgency to get this win."
Bowen's Analysis: Luck did not hide from the importance of this week's contest. He knows after an 0-2 start, and with a divisional opponent on the docket, the intensity is a bit ratcheted up this week.
In each of the last two seasons, the Colts have put together two of their more complete performances in trips to Jacksonville. Sunday would be the ideal time to whip up another one of those as the Colts begin their 2014 divisional slate. The Colts will see all three AFC South teams in the next four weeks and Sunday provides a chance to record their eighth straight divisional win.
INJURY NOTES
Here is the injury report for Wednesday:
-OUT-Ahmad Bradshaw (rest), Darius Butler (neck), Jerrell Freeman (hamstring), D'Qwell Jackson (rest), Ricky Jean Francois (ankle), Arthur Jones (ankle), LaRon Landry (rest), Joe Reitz (ankle) and Reggie Wayne (rest).
-It was a long list for Chuck Pagano to announce at the start of his Wednesday presser. He cautioned on Tuesday that with a short week, some guys would be held out early in the week.
-LIMITED-T.Y. Hilton (groin) and Greg Toler (ribs).
-Toler was once again in a red jersey at practice, just like we saw at times last week. Hilton got a little banged up late in Monday night's game against the Eagles.
-FULL-Khaled Holmes (ankle)
-A major step in the right direction for Holmes after he was limited for much of the last two weeks. Chuck Pagano said Holmes got the bulk of the first team work on Wednesday, which is a promising sign to start the week of practice.
