INDIANAPOLIS – One final practice on Friday marked the end of Jacksonville preparation on-the-field for the Colts.
The Colts will hold a morning walk-through on Saturday before departing for Jacksonville later that afternoon.
Here's a rundown of what Chuck Pagano and Reggie Wayne had to say on Friday, along with the week's injury report.
Chuck Pagano on Khaled Holmes starting on Sunday:
"Like anybody else coming off an injury, whatever it is, I'm not going to just throw a kid to the wolves if he's not 100 percent and ready to play."
Bowen's Analysis: Holmes was a full participant in practice all week for the first time since early August. He will not start on Sunday though and Pagano said he wasn't sure yet if Holmes would be active.
The Colts have created some depth along the interior of the line for the first time in a while so they can afford to hold off on Holmes' return until he's completely healthy. If Holmes can continue to progress and practice full next week, then the home matchup with Tennessee on 9/28 seems to be the best option for him to make his first NFL start.
Chuck Pagano on A.Q. Shipley:
"We can play winning football with A.Q."
Bowen's Analysis: Shipley will make his third straight start for the Colts. Without Shipley, who knows where the Colts would have turned at the center position. Was Jonotthan Harrison healthy enough to start in Denver? Would Jack Mewhort have slid over to center?
Shipley has answered those questions and continues to be a key stop-gap guy just like he was back in 2012 for five games, and even last year for the Ravens at guard. When Shipley was signed, Ryan Grigson pointed to the intelligence of the current Colts starting center as a major reason why such a quick transition could be made.Reggie Wayne on the sense of urgency heading into Jacksonville:
"We want to go out there and display our talents the way it should be and we haven't been able to do that so far."
Bowen's Analysis: In each of the last two weeks, the Colts final offensive play has ended with an incompletion in the direction of Wayne. The 14-year veteran is tired of walking off the field following those incompletions knowing a loss was coming.
The Colts and Wayne now head to Jacksonville where No. 87 has torched opposing defenses. In Wayne's career against the Jaguars, his 138 catches for 1,958 receiving yards are the most for any active player against one NFL team.
INJURY NOTES
Here is the Colts final injury report of the week:
-OUT-Jerrell Freeman (hamstring) and Art Jones (ankle).
-With neither player practicing all week, this isn't much of a surprise. It goes without saying that these two losses are massive for the middle of the Colts front seven.
-QUESTIONABLE-Ricky Jean Francois (ankle), Hakeem Nicks (illness) and Joe Reitz (ankle)
-The health of Francois is key going into Sunday with Jones already ruled out. The Colts have the receiver depth to get by without Nicks, although he was at practice on Friday, just did not participate.
-PROBABLE-Darius Butler (neck), T.Y. Hilton (groin), Khaled Holmes (ankle) and Greg Toler (ribs)
-Even though Holmes is probable, he won't start on Sunday. Having Holmes practice FULL all three days this week is obviously a good sign but his starting debut is still on hold.
