INDIANAPOLIS — While there’s still plenty of work to do before being declared physically ready for the team’s Sept. 7 season opener with the Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning apparently came through his first day of a full-practice regiment in good shape.
That was the word Wednesday from Colts coach Tony Dungy, who joked that rookie tight end Tom Santi — who has also been activated from the physically unable to perform list along with Manning — did well during Tuesday’s workout.
“I know everyone’s anxious to know how Tom Santi did with his bursa sac and how that came out. Tom did very well. Made it through practice well. Is on a limited amount of plays and did fine. And our other bursa-sac guy did the same and did fine,” Dungy teased during his daily news conference, referring to Manning.
When asked specifically about how the practice went, the Colts’ coach said he was pleased with what he saw.
“He actually did well. He threw, did his warmup, got in his individual period and the ballhandling, threw his [pass] routes vs. air [no coverage], threw some one-on-one and threw very well. And moved around and did fine,” Dungy said.
“We did not have him in any of the team work, but he did fine and hasn’t experienced any problems. So, so far so good. He’ll get a little more work [Wednesday]. Will not play in [tonight’s preseason] game [with Cincinnati], but he’s right on schedule.”
Manning will get some additional practice in today before the Bengals game, along with several other players on the team’s injury list.
“We’ve got a number of guys who are going to do the same thing, work out but probably not play. So he’ll get some work in then. So far, so good. Everything’s on schedule,” the Colts’ coach said.
• • •
• Decision time for Saturday — Center Jeff Saturday could be looking at a lengthy recovery period after suffering a medical collateral ligament injury in his right knee. He was hurt in the third quarter of Sunday’s home preseason game with Buffalo.
The question for Saturday, though, is whether he will decide to try and play with the injury or opt to have surgery, which has the potential to keep him sidelined for most of the regular season. What could complicate matters is that Saturday’s contract expires after this year.
“I have not heard [any updates],” Dungy said. “I know Jeff is visiting [doctors], getting more looks at it. But I don’t have an update on that.”
• Sorgi getting better — Backup quarterback Jim Sorgi will not play against Cincinnati tonight, but his sore knee has shown some signs of progress.
“No update except that he’s doing better. It appears to be healing and the swelling’s going down. He’s not here [Wednesday], but he is doing better. [Associate head athletic trainer] Dave Hammer’s really happy with his progress,” the Colts’ coach said.
• Jobs on the line tonight — All NFL teams must trim their rosters down to the regular-season limit of 53 players by Friday. Indianapolis is expected to announce its cuts Saturday or Sunday. That means fans will be able to watch veteran backups and rookies from both teams for most of this evening’s game.
With punt/kick returner T.J. Rushing out for the remainder of the year due to a knee injury suffered against Buffalo, this evening’s meeting will go a long way in determining who will take over as the Colts’ primary return specialist.
Former Indiana University standout receiver Courtney Roby is one option being considered, along with rookie wide receiver Pierre Garcon, rookie running back Chad Simpson and possibly running back Dominic Rhodes.
“We’re going to keep most of our regular first group out. We’ve also got some injury guys that are out,” Dungy said.
He added that while the Colts’ coaching staff already has a good idea of how things will shake out roster-wise, a final look can always sway a decision one way or another.
“You have things you think you know how they’re going to go. You have some [positions] that you still want to see. I told our guys [that] for the most part, when you get to those last eight or nine spots on the roster, there are a number of guys that can fill that role. And you want to see who can do a number of things. And that’s what [the Cincinnati] game will be about,” Dungy explained.
“We’ll have some young guys who’ll play more than they’ve normally played. They’ll play on different spots on special teams. We’ve got to get our [kick] return situation squared away and see who that returner is now with T.J. being out. So that’s going to be a big part of it. That’ll impact a few other decisions depending on if the returner is a wide receiver, a running back or a [defensive back]. Who can play multiple positions. So that’s who you’re looking to see in this last game.”
• Pick a quarterback — Quinn Gray will probably get the start at quarterback and split the work with Jared Lorenzen. If the Colts end up keeping three quarterbacks to begin the regular season, what either one does against the Bengals will play into this weekend’s roster moves.
“It’s still to be determined in what we do [with the number of quarterbacks to be kept for the regular season]. And a lot of that will be the medical report on Jim and Peyton,” Dungy said. “And so those guys [Gray and Lorenzen] are both going to play. We’ll see how they do and then we’ll determine if we keep four, three or two.
“We haven’t ruled anything out. A lot of that would be medical opinion on our quarterbacks. But two is a possibility.”
• Injury list — Cornerback Kelvin Hayden (hamstring/heel) returned to practice Wednesday but probably won’t play tonight. Among those also sidelined with injuries — besides Manning, Saturday, Sorgi and Hayden — include defensive ends Robert Mathis (ankle), Raheem Brock (ankle) and Curtis Johnson (shoulder); safeties Matt Giordano (leg) and Melvin Bullitt (knee); and rookie offensive guard Mike Pollak (knee).
Rookie outside linebacker Philip Wheeler (knee) has returned to practice after undergoing surgery three weeks ago. He is expected to play against the Bengals.
Safety Bob Sanders (shoulder) and defensive end Dwight Freeney (foot) have practiced all week but will not play this evening.
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