When Ryan Kelly was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury Nov. 5, the Colts were 4-5, most recently losing to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday Night Football. Kelly had been battling through a host of injuries throughout the season – a neck injury rendered him inactive in Weeks 4 and 5 – but the knee injury was serious enough to place Kelly on injured reserve for just the second time in his nine-year NFL career.

"It just flared up to the point where I couldn't mentally or physically go through that another week," Kelly said. "I thought cleaning it up at the time was the best thing for me and my performance to help the team. Obviously, missing the two weeks there and going on IR for a short term was frustrating."

"Not being able to help my team on the field, I think that's the hardest part," he added.

In the five games Kelly has missed, the Colts have gone 2-3 with losses to the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and, most recently, the Denver Broncos. The loss to the Broncos significantly decreased the Colts' chances to make the playoffs, and all Kelly could do was watch from the sidelines.

"In a way, you're a little helpless when you're on IR, you want to be out there helping your guys and you can't," Kelly said. "So yeah, it's disappointing. I think we – the second half of this last game, we wish we had that back."

The Colts have seen both rookie Tanor Bortolini and veteran Danny Pinter step in for Kelly; throughout the season, the offensive line has shuffled around a great deal due to various injuries.

"We've gone down some positions here and there, but I feel like you've seen a lot of guys step up and do a great job," Kelly said. "Frustrating personally, but as a room I think I'm really proud of the performance that we've all gone out there and done throughout the year. We haven't played our best at times, but we always keep moving forward."

Last Wednesday, the Colts opened Kelly's 21-day practice window, allowing him to return from injured reserve at any point in the next three weeks. Kelly was a limited participant in all three practices in Week 15 and did not play in the Colts' loss to the Broncos, still working through the final "checklist" to make sure he's able to play.

While Kelly has not yet been designated to return, he and head coach Shane Steichen are both hopeful Kelly could be available for the Colts' Week 16 matchup against the Tennessee Titans.

"We'll see how the week goes, but he's doing really good," Steichen said Wednesday.

"I feel like I'm really close to getting back," Kelly said. "Talked to the trainers, it could be this week, could be next week. It's kind of one of those deals."

Kelly did say, with a small smile, that he felt there was a "high chance" he will play on Sunday. And even though the Colts only have three guaranteed games left this season, Kelly is determined to give it his all whenever he is able to get back on the field.

"I think the best way to put it is that you don't risk anything less," he said. "You're not risking anything less going out there on Sundays, what you did last week versus this week. There's still the chance of serious injury. You still get a chance to play the game that you love since you you've been playing when you were a kid. Those things never change based off the scenarios of playoffs, not playoffs, it doesn't matter. And you're not guaranteed another year in this league. So hopefully I can get out there Sunday and play with my guys.

"...You just play every single play like it's your last, every game like it's your last, and you just push it to the very end and see what happens."

Thursday's practice report: