INDIANAPOLIS – The imitations had their unique aspects, but they all came with a nod of appreciation from their leader.

Robert Mathis was left to watch in 2014, observing an entire season due to an Achilles injury.

The closest Mathis, the NFL's 2013 sack leader, got to the field last season was seeing how his teammates tried to carry on No. 98's presence.

You recorded a sack, you got to dance, just like Mathis.

"When I got here, I was always a fan of Rob's," veteran D'Qwell Jackson says explaining where the sack dance imitation of Mathis began.

"Once I got here, it was almost a tribute to him. If we were able to get back there and get a sack, we did his sack dance. It caught fire."

There was the four-sack day against Baltimore in early October, which included several mimics of the Colts all-time sack leader.

A few days after the win over the Ravens, the Colts defenders were dancing in Houston, thanks to a five-sack night in a critical road, divisional win.

"Everybody on the d-line is respectful of Robert Mathis and in this organization, he's a role model for everybody," Bjoern Werner says.

"What he had to go through off the field, on the field, it was just tough. He was our leader still, even if he wasn't on the field with us. We wanted to pay tribute to him and show how much he means to us."

Looking back on those dances, Mathis cracks a smile and hands out a nice looking report card.

Mathis is complimentary of what Werner, Jackson and Cory Redding did last season, as he was left towel waving on the sideline.

"It kind of got me choked up the first time I saw it," Mathis says looking back on last season.

"It (also) gave me a few little chuckles."

What Mathis now wants more than anything is to be the one doing the sacking (and dancing) for a 112th time.

Chuck Pagano said on Monday that the Colts will continue to increase Mathis' practice reps with the arrow pointing up on his progress. Any decision on Mathis' availability for Monday night will come later this week.

When Mathis does return to the field, one can assure you that when it's his turn to dance again, the dance floor won't be empty.

"For (Mathis) to see that, I'm sure it's something he will talk about forever," Jackson says of the dances.

"Trying to put myself in his shoes, that's the ultimate sign of respect."