INDIANAPOLIS — By the time Thursday night's game against the New England Patriots was over, the number of available players on the Indianapolis Colts' roster had crept into the 30s.
The Colts started the game with seven injured or otherwise unavailable players on their inactives list, two more players who weren't going to dress for the game due to injuries, and one player who only could be used in an emergency. That's 10.
Then, during the game, four more players would suffer injuries and did not return. That's 14.
And that's not counting other players who have, fortunately, been able to play through their various nicks and bruises.
Perhaps one of the only benefits of playing on Thursday night in the NFL is the few days off that follow the game, and the Colts are hoping to take full advantage of that time away from the field to get as healthy as they can heading into their Week 6 matchup against the New York Jets on Oct. 14.
"I think we will probably get one or two guys back," Colts head coach Frank Reich said after the Patriots game. "I don't want to project who that might be yet, but the extra couple days rest will probably come at a good time for us."
Reich said there really hasn't been any pattern or theme when it comes to the Colts' numerous injuries. The team, of course, always will explore various ways to better prevent and treat them, however.
"There are so many factors that go into it, I just think it's near impossible to try to pin it down," Reich told reporters Friday in a conference call. "It doesn't mean that you don't look for things. It doesn't mean that you don't try to find ways to improve and do every little thing you can do to keep your guys healthy and keep them from getting hurt. Sure, we always are evaluating everything, but in the big scope of things I think it's impossible to pin it to one thing."
Injuries are just, unfortunately, a part of life in the NFL, and, to Reich, the Colts are experiencing it more than usual at the moment.
"We have all been around this business a long time and sometimes you just get bit and it seems they come in waves and that's unfortunate when it happens," Reich said. "Some years you go and it seems like everybody stays healthy and then other years it seems like guys just are just getting dinged."
So just what is the Colts' total injury situation as they begin preparations for the Jets on Monday? Here's a player-by-player look:
» Defensive tackle/end Denico Autry: Autry suffered a hamstring injury late in the first half of Thursday's game against the Patriots and didn't return. Reich did not have an update on Autry's status on Friday.
» Tackle Anthony Castonzo: Castonzo has been dealing with a nagging hamstring injury since before the start of training camp, and is yet to make his 2018 debut. The Colts' starting left tackle, Castonzo was active for the first time all season against the Patriots, but was only considered an emergency option up front. "We knew he was progressing well, but we wanted to be cautious given the setback he had," Reich said after Thursday's game.
» Tight end Jack Doyle: Doyle suffered a hip injury the Colts' Week 2 victory against the Washington Redskins and has missed the team's three games since. Reich classified Doyle's injury as more "week-to-week" at the time it occurred.
» Safety Matthias Farley: Farley also suffered a hamstring injury on Thursday against the Patriots and didn't return. Reich did not have an update on his status on Friday.
» Safety Clayton Geathers: Geathers exited Thursday's game against the Patriots with both a neck injury and a concussion. The concern with Geathers, specifically, is the fact that a serious neck injury ended his season in 2016 and required surgery. Reich said Friday the team is still in the evaluation process as it pertains to Geathers' latest neck injury.
» Tackle/guard Denzelle Good: Good, the Colts' starter at right tackle, has been with his family in South Carolina, where his brother, Overton, was tragically killed earlier this week.
» Cornerback Nate Hairston: Hairston suffered an ankle injury last Sunday in the Colts' Week 5 matchup against the Houston Texans, and, after testing the injury out before the game, was unable to play Thursday against the Patriots. Reich did not have an update on Hairston's status on Friday.
» Wide receiver T.Y. Hilton: Hilton initially suffered a chest injury last Sunday against the Texans, and was able to return. But he later suffered a hamstring injury and didn't return, and it kept him out of practice and the Patriots game this week, snapping a consecutive starts streak of 42 games. Reich said he hoped to have a more clear status for Hilton by Monday.
» Linebacker Darius Leonard: Leonard suffered, and played through, an ankle injury last Sunday against the Texans, missing just one snap, but, like Hairston, he was unable to dress for Thursday's game against the Patriots after trying to test his ankle out during pregame warmups. Reich did not have an update on Leonard's status on Friday.
» Running back Marlon Mack: Mack has been battling a hamstring injury since the team's preseason opener against the Seattle Seahawks on Aug. 9. He was able to make his 2018 debut Week 2 against the Redskins, getting the start at running back, but has since re-aggravated his injury. Mack has been able to practice, albeit in a limited role, the last couple weeks, and Reich hopes to get him back soon. "I think because of the setback we had, I think after going through that it's pretty critical that the player is just all-in and there is no hesitation and no doubt in his mind," Reich said of Mack.
» Cornerback Kenny Moore II: Moore II suffered a concussion last Sunday against the Texans and, on a short week, was unable to clear the league's concussion protocol in time for Thursday's game against the Patriots. Look for an update on his status next week.
» Defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway: Ridgeway suffered a calf injury Week 2 against the Redskins and has not played in the team's three games since, nor has he practiced.
» Linebacker Anthony Walker: Walker suffered a concussion Thursday against the Patriots. He is also now subject to the league's concussion protocol, so expect an update on him sometime next week.
» Cornerback Quincy Wilson: Wilson suffered a concussion Week 2 against the Redskins and has been in the league's concussion protocol since, keeping him off the practice field. Asked Sept. 28 if Wilson was going in the right direction with the injury, Reich said: "I believe so. Sometimes, my experience just in general with players with this is that it can just hang on for a couple days. We all want to be safe. We all want to do the right thing for the player and I really appreciate that about our organization. We are going to try to do the right thing for the player."
