INDIANAPOLIS — Two key offensive playmakers, both of whom are recovering from fractured right hands, were on the practice field for the Indianapolis Colts on Wednesday.
That's notable especially for running back Marlon Mack, who on Wednesday was participating in his first on-field work since suffering his injury in the second half of the Colts' Week 11 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars just 17 days ago.
Wide receiver Parris Campbell, meanwhile, is kicking off his second straight week of practice after fracturing his hand late in the Colts' Week 9 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Nov. 3.
As for Mack, the Colts' top running back, is there a chance he could play Sunday, when the team travels to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 14 action?
"There's a chance, yes," head coach Frank Reich told reporters today.
Mack, who was one of the league's leading rushers at the time of his injury, suffered his injury in the third quarter of the Colts' victory over the Jaguars on Nov. 17. He stands just 138 rushing yards shy of his first-career 1,000-yard season.
The Colts have turned to Jonathan Williams — who has two 100-yard rushing performances the past three games — as well as Nyheim Hines and Jordan Wilkins at running back with Mack out of the lineup against the Houston Texans and the Tennessee Titans.
Campbell, meanwhile, sat out his fourth straight game last Sunday against the Titans. He was a limited participant in all three practices last week and had a shot at playing, but the team ultimately decided to put him on the inactives list for at least one more week.
Campbell was a full participant during Wednesday's practice.
"I was hoping he was going to get there last week and we didn't quite get there," Reich said of Campbell on Monday. "So that would make you believe that there is a pretty good chance this week. We've said this many times, until you actually get out there and practice – especially like we said for a younger guy, we need to see it all three days out there. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that he is ready physically and mentally to go and hopefully he is but it is too early to tell."
Campbell, the Colts' 2019 second-round pick out of Ohio State, has missed a combined six games this season with various injuries. He had 15 receptions for 115 yards and a touchdown, as well as four rushing attempts for 34 yards, on the year.
Campbell's potential return could provide a much-needed shot in the arm to a banged-up Colts wide receiver corps, which was down to three active players last Sunday against the Titans after Chester Rogers went down with a knee injury; Rogers has since been placed on injured reserve. In a corresponding move, the team elevated wide receiver Chad Williams to the active roster from the practice squad.
Hilton working to return
T.Y. Hilton was given a "week-to-week" status after suffering a setback with his injured calf during practice last week, but the Colts' top wide receiver said today he's making every effort to get back to game action for the Colts before the end of the regular season.
"I don't know yet. Still taking it day by day," Hilton said today, when asked if there's a chance he could return this Sunday against the Buccaneers. "The decision is up to the coach and trainers. But I'm still in the process of getting better."
Hilton originally suffered his calf injury Oct. 30, during a non-contact portion of practice. He missed the Colts' next three games before returning to play a limited role Week 12 against the Houston Texans, playing 25 offensive snaps and logging three receptions for 18 yards.
General manager Chris Ballard announced last week that Hilton suffered a setback during last Wednesday's practice, and would be considered week-to-week moving forward.
"It just wouldn't get right, you know?" Hilton said today of that setback. "It made matters worse, so it is what it is."
Hilton, who did not practice today, has been spending most of his days in the training room to try to work his way back as soon as possible.
"I'm doing everything I can to get back out there," he said. "If I can, I can; if I can't, then I'm gonna have to shut it down. But I'm doing everything I can."
Injury report
Here's the full injury report from Wednesday's practice:
» DNP: WR T.Y. Hilton (calf); CB Kenny Moore II (ankle)
» Limited: S Clayton Geathers (not injury related; rest); S Malik Hooker (foot); RB Marlon Mack (hand); K Adam Vinatieri (knee)
» Full: TE Mo Alie-Cox (thumb); WR Parris Campbell (hand)
— This is the first time Vinatieri has appeared on the injury report this season.
