INDIANAPOLIS – The Colts are back at their team complex, but are still in a Training Camp-type mode from a schedule standpoint.
This week, the Colts will practice Monday-Thursday before turning their attention to Saturday night's preseason home opener against the Ravens.
On Monday afternoon, Chuck Pagano updated the injury to Sio Moore, the run game struggles and if there is a competition for the backup quarterback spot.
INJURY NEWS
- S-Clayton Geathers (foot): Geathers remains in a walking boot. The timetable for his return looks to be right around the Colts' regular season opener.
- RG-Denzelle Good (lower quad, knee contusion): Backing up the "not serious" comment Pagano made on Saturday about Good, the starting right guard participated in Monday's practice.
- OT-Kevin Graf (ankle): X-rays were negative on Graf's ankle, but it could be a week-to-week timetable for the reserve tackle.
- DT-Ricky Lumpkin (finger): Lumpkin was back to work on Monday.
- ILB-Sio Moore (hamstring): It's a "pretty significant" hamstring injury. Moore was not at Monday's practice and listed at week-to-week (more on this below).
- OG-Hugh Thornton (ankle): Thornton was not at Monday's practice and is also listed at week-to-week.
- The following players did not appear to be practicing on Monday: DE-Henry Anderson (knee), CB-Jalil Brown (foot), DE-Kendall Langford (knee), WR-Marcus Leak (quad), CB-Tevin Mitchel (hamstring) and CB-D'Joun Smith (knee).
Chuck Pagano on the hamstring injury to Sio Moore:
"Pretty significant."
Bowen's Analysis:* *The Colts are going to be without Moore for some time. Pagano has a "week-to-week" tag for Moore, after the fourth-year linebacker hurt his hamstring in Saturday's preseason opener. Listed as a starter on the depth chart, Moore was among the trio of inside linebackers, along with D'Qwell Jackson and Nate Irving, who were rotating in among the two ILB spots.
Without Moore, more opportunities are there for promising youngsters Antonio Morrison and Edwin Jackson. In the team's preseason opener, it was Edwin Jackson who led the Colts with eight tackles. Pagano has liked what the 2015 undrafted free agent has shown the Colts this camp. With Moore out, look for Irving to assume even more starting reps with these two young guys, plus Josh McNary, increasing their reps.
Chuck Pagano on improving the run game from the preseason opener:
"Run game (I'm) obviously disappointed. We've got to do a much better job with that."
Bowen's Analysis: Slow starts, on both sides of the ball, and improving the run game is on Chuck Pagano's mind going into Week Two of the preseason.
Pagano knows the run game isn't going to offer a complete look, with Frank Gore likely to see no more than a couple of carries in the month of August. With or without Gore, Pagano knows the 1.3 yards per carry in Saturday's preseason opener isn't going to cut it. Last year, Week Two of the preseason is when Gore got his lone carries of August, so that's something to watch this weekend. Gore said on Monday that he does "want to get hit" at some point this month.
Chuck Pagano on Stephen Morris challenging Scott Tolzien for the backup quarterback role:
"Everybody is competing at this point.
"Until we make the cut down…nothing is given to Scott."
Bowen's Analysis: Unlike past years, it's no guarantee who the Colts' backup will be this season. Tolzien is the favorite, given his six years of NFL experience. But Pagano said on Monday that Morris impressed in the preseason opener and the atmosphere wasn't too big for the third-year quarterback.
Tolzien has had some inconsistencies with accuracy this camp, something the quarterback alluded to after Saturday's game. Pagano did like how Tolzien bounced back on Saturday night to lead a couple of late first half scoring drives. These two aren't expected to get a bunch of playing time in the next two preseason games. Extended action again for them will come in the preseason finale. As for this Saturday, expect Andrew Luck to play multiple series, probably right around a quarter of action in his 2016 debut.
ROSTER MOVES
On Thursday afternoon, the Colts claimed guard Donovan Williams off waivers from the Chicago Bears and waived punter Michael Palardy.
This move makes sense with the Pat McAfee back healthy and Hugh Thornton week-to-week with his ankle injury.
