INDIANAPOLIS – For a second straight day, the Colts had a very light practice without helmets on.
It's a banged up Colts football team that will head to Houston Wednesday afternoon for their lone Thursday night game of the season.
Here are some sound bites from Andrew Luck and Chuck Pagano meeting the media on Tuesday:Andrew Luck on how he feels after taking most of the snaps at Tuesday's practice:
"I think I've gotten better every day. I don't think I'm necessarily where I want to be today in a perfect, perfect world.
"I'm preparing to start and play."
Bowen's Analysis:* *With Matt Hasselbeck sick on Tuesday and not practicing, Andrew Luck took most of the snaps at practice. Luck also threw at Tuesday's practice, a session that was more walk-through-like with an abbreviated week of work.
Luck wouldn't get into specifics about the reports of a possible separated shoulder for the Colts quarterback. His common answer on Tuesday was about breaking down the Texans defense. As of Tuesday, the biggest change from last week to this week regarding the quarterback position is the fact the Colts only have two quarterbacks on their active roster right now. That, along with continued progression from Luck, are two signs that Luck will at least dress, and likely play, on Thursday.
Chuck Pagano on the challenge of playing on Thursday night:
"It's demanding and we are beat up right now."
Bowen's Analysis: The Colts injury report saw six starters from Sunday miss practice on Tuesday. That's what happens when you have to practice on a Tuesday, a normal off day. That doesn't even take into account the five quarters of football the Colts had to play in their overtime win.
Since 2007, the Colts have not lost once in nine Thursday night games. There have been plenty of one-possession contests in short weeks, but the Colts have always found a way. This Thursday is a pivotal game for early AFC South implications. A win would give the Colts some cushion in the division, before the schedule gets much tougher in the next two months.Chuck Pagano on the play of the offensive line from Sunday:
"Outside of a hiccup here or there, I thought they played well."
Bowen's Analysis: The Colts offensive line will stick together for a third straight week and see an extremely menacing front in Houston. The unit had a nice day in pass protection last week against the Jaguars.
Last year, the Colts saw first-hand how NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt can turn a game in a hurry. Watt's fourth-quarter fumble return for a touchdown in Houston was the loudest NRG Stadium got all night and cut the Colts lead to one-possession. The Colts must account for Watt on every snap, while also keeping a close eye on 2014 No. 1 pick Jadeveon Clowney, who is healthy and playing.
INJURY NOTES
Here is the injury report for Tuesday:
- DNP: S-Mike Adams (neck), DT-Henry Anderson (foot), CB-Jalil Brown (groin), CB-Vontae Davis (foot), ILB-Jerrell Freeman (groin), QB-Matt Hasselbeck (sick), RB-Tyler Varga (concussion), ILB-Bjoern Werner (hamstring)
-There are six starters above from Sunday afternoon. Brown, Werner and Varga seem to be the ones in jeopardy of being ruled OUT on Wednesday. Hasselbeck said he expects to be ready to go Thursday after he's battled some sickness the past few days.
- LIMITED: QB-Andrew Luck (right shoulder)
-The Luck update is above.
- FULL: TE-Dwayne Allen (ankle), RB-Frank Gore (foot), DE-Kendall Langford (back), CB-Greg Toler (neck)
-Pagano said on Tuesday that Toler will start and see his normal starting workload. From an endurance standpoint, Toler has practiced for the past few weeks and has been running---the contact part is the only thing that was keeping him out of the lineup.
