INDIANAPOLIS – With the Colts third preseason game falling on Saturday this weekend, Tuesday marked the first full day of practice this week.
You saw signs of game prep on the practice field Tuesday with the Colts having some guys wearing different colored jerseys, representing scout team members.
What did Chuck Pagano and Andrew Luck have to say to the media on Tuesday?Injury Report
The following players did not appear to be participating in Tuesday's practice: TE-Coby Fleener (ankle), OG-Hugh Thornton (knee), WR-Andre Johnson, ILB-D'Qwell Jackson, OLB-Eric Walden, CB-Jalil Brown (hamstring), CB-Chance Casey (groin), WR-Quan Bray (groin): Day-to-day, S-Dewey McDonald (knee), CB-Eric Patterson (concussion), CB-Greg Toler (neck strain) and WR-Phillip Dorsett (knee contusion).Chuck Pagano on the Colts tackling:
"That's what you're always scared about when you open preseason, you worry about how well you're going to tackle. We'll get better."
Bowen's Analysis: With injuries running rampant around the NFL this time of year, live taclking periods come in games. The Colts starters should get around two-to three quarters of it on Saturday night, something the Colts head coach will be observing very closely.
One position to watch on the Colts defense come Saturday night will be the nose tackle spot. Last week against the Bears, rookie David Parry got a shot with the first team. Will Parry unseat Josh Chapman at nose tackle or is Chapman going to retain his starting role? I think no matter what that answer is, we will see some rotation throughout the nose tackle spot in 2015.
Chuck Pagano on the play of Erik Walden this preseason:
"That guy is as tough a guy as we've got on our defense. Talk about setting the edge, rushing the passer. He brings a physicality and level of intensity to the game, to our locker room and to our defense that is unmatched.
"There would have to be bone showing on that kid for him to come out of that game, he's just a tough son of a gun."
Bowen's Analysis: With so much depth at the outside linebacker spot this season, Walden hasn't received much notoriety in the offseason. He was disruptive throughout the first quarter of the Colts preseason home opener last Saturday.
Even with Robert Mathis returning to practice on Tuesday, Walden is still going to play a key role in 2015. The adjectives Pagano uses to describe Mathis are words that you rarely hear a head coach say about another player. Walden is a key cog for the Colts run defense this season.Andrew Luck on Reggie Wayne signing with the Patriots:
"Super happy for him. What a great teammate he is. They've got a great guy there."
Bowen's Analysis: Seeing reports from New England media on Tuesday it was definitely weird seeing Wayne wearing a No. 15 on the Patriots practice field. Here is Wayne meeting the Patriots media for the first time on Tuesday.
In 2012, Wayne's veteran presence was a massive help to the rookie quarterback. Wayne was a Pro Bowler in 2012 and a major reason why Luck showed little first-year jitters in helping the Colts to an 11-win season. It was odd though watching Luck talk about Wayne on Tuesday as a potential opponent in less than two months.
