Week Seven Defensive Injury Issues for Indianapolis Colts

As the Indianapolis Colts prepare to take their home field on Sunday for the fourth time this season, they are also trying to use what little time they have during this week to heal the mounting number of defensive injuries they have accrued. The Colts have been beat up since before the season even started, and the injury numbers have simply added up since then.

As the Colts wait for a number of their starters on defense to mend, they find themselves repeatedly digging deep into other team’s practice squads for help. For a team that is young and inexperienced at many positions already, the are truely putting themselves behind the eight-ball by being forced to literally bring in new guys off the street, week after week.

Starting linebacker Pat Angerer was a full participant at Colts practice on Thursday. Angerer has not seen the field since breaking his foot early in the preseason, and the Colts need him now more than ever. Linebacker Jerrell Freeman stepped in for Angerer and leads the Colts in tackles, but left last week’s game with a head injury. Freeman returned to full practice on Wednesday, and all signs point to his return. With injuries still fresh for both players, it might be best for the Colts to ease up on playing time, and possibly switch the two linebackers in and out on Sunday.

Linebacker/defensive end Robert Mathis will most likely miss at least one more game with a sprained knee. The Colts may also be without defensive end Cory Redding, who suffered a knee injury of his own during last week’s loss.

The possibilities look more promising for cornerback Vontae Davis and defensive end/linebacker Dwight Freeney, who both have been slowed by ankle injuries. Both players were at full practice, but may not be at full speed, even if they play.

The old saying is, that time heals all wounds. The problem for the Colts is that they don’t have much time to heal.