INDIANAPOLIS – With temperatures beginning to approach fall-like feel, the Colts had their first practice of the week on Wednesday.
For the third consecutive week, the Colts will follow the same practice schedule prior to a Sunday afternoon contest.
Here are a few headlines from Chuck Pagano talking to media on Wednesday:
Chuck Pagano on Jack Mewhort being ruled OUT for Sunday:
"I just think of Lance (Louis) stepping in for Hugh (Thornton) at right guard last week and doing a great job.
"We've got Hugh back and so now we just put Lance back over at the left side and we roll."
Bowen's Analysis:* *The shuffling on the offensive line continues after the starting five was the same through the first three weeks of the season. The unit has been extremely solid throughout the first month of the year with Andrew Luck being sacked just twice in his last 128 pass attempts.
With Louis moving back to left guard, the Colts now have him in the spot where he ran with the first team for pretty much all of OTAs and minicamp. The extra bulk of Louis and Thornton in the interior will be crucial going up against Ravens All-Pro Haloti Nagata.
Andrew Luck on playing the 3-1 Ravens:
"If you want to be a team in the AFC you are going to have to beat this Baltimore defense, and team."
Bowen's Analysis: Listening to Chuck Pagano and the Colts players talk they realize the type of task that will be coming into Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday. The Ravens (3-1) have been very impressive the last three weeks and display a balanced attack on both sides of the football.
Sunday's matchup pits the No. 2 and 3 point differential teams in the NFL. There's a lot of talk about just what type of team the Colts are after the first month of the season. The measuring stick on Sunday is a pretty good barometer for this team to prove they are one of the better in the AFC.
Sergio Brown on filling in for LaRon Landry:
"It definitely can be an opportunity for me to prove that I can play in this NFL at any position."
Bowen's Analysis: Brown slides into the role of "Next Man Up" for Landry. The special teams ace will now get a chance to become a starting safety for the next month. Brown has started three career games at safety, all in the 2011 season with the Patriots.
When the Colts re-signed Brown back in March, the Notre Dame product made it clear he wanted to be known as a guy who could impact the game defensively, along with being a Pro Bowl level cover guy. Brown did say on Wednesday that the extended first team reps he got this offseason should be extremely beneficial in lining up next to Mike Adams on Sunday afternoon.
INJURY NOTES
Here is the injury report for Wednesday:
-DNP- Ahmad Bradshaw (rest), D'Qwell Jackson (rest), Arthur Jones (ankle), Jack Mewhort (ankle) and Reggie Wayne (rest).
-Obviously, the major news comes from Mewhort who despite finishing the game on Sunday, has been ruled out for this weekend.
-LIMITED- Jerrell Freeman (hamstring)
-Freeman practiced for the first time since the regular season opener this week and he will be the key guy to watch on the injury report the rest of the week.
-FULL- Colt Anderson (groin), Andy Studebaker (hamstring) and Hugh Thornton (ankle)
-The Colts got a pair of their special team core guys back on Wednesday. With the loss of Mewhort, the return of Thornton is key.
