INDIANAPOLIS — Tony Dungy thinks there’s a pretty good chance that veteran cornerback Kelvin Hayden will be returning to the starting lineup when the Indianapolis Colts face the San Diego Chargers in a nationally televised game with the Chargers Sunday night.
The status of strong safety Bob Sanders, however, won’t be determined until just before game time. Sanders has been battling swelling in his right knee for the past two weeks. He was a pregame inactive for last week’s 33-27 home field win over Houston.
Melvin Bullitt, who has a team leading four interceptions this season, would get the start if Sanders is unable to play this week.
“I think Kelvin will be ready to go, He went through practice [Thursday’s] practice and seemed to do fine and was good [Friday],” Dungy said Friday. “Bob [Sanders] will probably be a game-time decision, so we’ll see what happens.”
Hayden has missed the last six games for the Colts after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee after he was injured Oct. 5 at Houston. He has also been nursing a sore hamstring since being cleared to begin working out three weeks ago.
“You’re more comfortable [getting Hayden back in the defensive lineup] and it gives you, certainly, more depth. We actually went into these last few games with just three corners. So that part of it we feel much better about, that we can withstand injury a little bit better,” the Indianapolis coach said.
“We have a chance to play three true corners if we want to in nickel situations. It gives us more of a chance to play dime defenses, so it helps us in a lot of ways. Even more than just getting your starting corner back.”
With Hayden returning to his normal spot at left cornerback, Tim Jennings is expected to move back to right cornerback. Jennings has been the replacement for injured starter Marlin Jackson (knee) on the right side. Jackson was hurt in practice earlier this month and has been placed on the team’s injured reserve list. Keiwan Ratliff, who had started the last three games at right cornerback, will now most likely get work in the Colts’ nickel package.
“Good news. I will be out there on Sunday,” Hayden said after Friday’s workout. “It’s been six weeks and I’m just real excited to get out there and back out there with guys. Honestly, I think I’m 100 percent. I haven’t had any setbacks in practice. No other aches. No other pain. I feel good. I think that I’m ready to go.”
• Petrowski likely to sit against Chargers — Recently signed tight end Jamie Petrowski will probably be a spectator during the San Diego game Sunday night.
The former Terre Haute North and Indiana State standout was added to the Colts’ active roster on Wednesday, but will only have four practices under his belt before the team heads west on Saturday. He is expected to be one of the team’s eight pregame inactives.
“I doubt it this week. [Petrowski’s] learning the ropes, learning what we do. We’ll get him acclimated as quick as we can, but I doubt that he would play this week,” Dungy said. Special teams work has also been ruled out for now.
The last week has been a hectic one for Petrowski, who has been forced to learn Indianapolis’ offense on the run.
“I’ve been trying to read my playbook and learn as much as possible as quickly as possible,” he said earlier this week. “It’s pretty much a work in progress right now.”
• Game balls — Earning game balls for the Colts’ win over Houston were the entire offensive line (offense), outside linebacker Clint Session (defense) and outside linebacker Tyjuan Hagler (special teams).
Indianapolis ran for a season-high 154 yards, led by running back Joseph Addai’s 105 yards on 27 carries, against the Texans. Session, meanwhile, had a game-high eight total tackles with two tackles for loss and a forced fumble. Hagler had four special teams tackles.
Sports
Hayden returning, but Sanders’ status unknown for Sunday
- Sports
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Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Winner: Northview pitcher T.J. Decker rejoices as his team records the last out in their semi-final win. The Knights defeated Terre Haute North in the first game Monday at Plainfield.
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Shining Knights: Northview tops both TH teams for title
A high school baseball game that had been tense all the way through reached angina-producing heights at the end Monday night, as Northview ended Terre Haute South’s sectional championship run by a single run and a fraction of an inch.
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Eaton’s pair of long balls put Linton in title game
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ISU chosen for NCAA baseball tournament
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INDY 500 NOTEBOOK: Barrichello finishes 10th in 1st oval race
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Shining Knights: Northview tops both TH teams for title
- Local Interest
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Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Winner: Northview pitcher T.J. Decker rejoices as his team records the last out in their semi-final win. The Knights defeated Terre Haute North in the first game Monday at Plainfield.
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Shining Knights: Northview tops both TH teams for title
A high school baseball game that had been tense all the way through reached angina-producing heights at the end Monday night, as Northview ended Terre Haute South’s sectional championship run by a single run and a fraction of an inch.
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Bubble intact: ISU headed to NCAA baseball tournament
Forty-eight teams had been chosen for the NCAA Baseball Tournament Selection Show and things were getting antsy in the Indiana State clubhouse on Monday.
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Miners beat 2A newcomer for 3rd straight title
Linton and North Central were both defending high school baseball sectional champions, but the Thunderbirds’ move up to Class 2A did not go as they expected.
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South hangs on after scary moment in sectional semis
Terre Haute South’s bid for a sixth consecutive high school baseball sectional championship took a scary turn Monday afternoon.
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PREP/METRO ROUNDUP: Turkey Run rolls to title
Turkey Run routed North Vermillion 15-2 to capture the Class A Rockville Sectional championship for high school baseball Monday night.
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Shining Knights: Northview tops both TH teams for title
- High School
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Shining Knights: Northview tops both TH teams for title
A high school baseball game that had been tense all the way through reached angina-producing heights at the end Monday night, as Northview ended Terre Haute South’s sectional championship run by a single run and a fraction of an inch.
- Miners beat 2A newcomer for 3rd straight title
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- Eaton’s pair of long balls put Linton in title game
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- College
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Bubble intact: ISU headed to NCAA baseball tournament
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Indiana State’s baseball fate to be decided today
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ISU hurdler Swift becomes 5th Sycamore to make NCAAs
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FROM THE PRESS BOX: ISU baseball has pluses, minuses for tourney bid
Last Thursday, when Indiana State’s baseball jumped around in a celebratory dogpile after clinching the Missouri Valley Conference regular season championship at Bob Warn Field, no one thought that a little over a week later, the dreaded NCAA Tournament bubble would fly over Terre Haute. -
Lou Watson, former IU player and coach, dies at 88
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Bubble intact: ISU headed to NCAA baseball tournament
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KEGLER’S KORNER: New members of GTHBA Hall of Fame
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KEGLER’S KORNER: New members of GTHBA Hall of Fame
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Colts have stocked up on tight ends
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Colts have stocked up on tight ends
- Terre Haute Rex
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Rex summer league team will have almost entire new pitching staff
Perseverance was one of the stories for the Terre Haute Rex during the 2011 season as manager Brian Dorsett took the team to its first playoff berth in its second year of existence.
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Rex summer league team will have almost entire new pitching staff
- Colts
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Colts have stocked up on tight ends
Just because Dallas Clark is now in Tampa Bay and Jacob Tamme has moved on to Denver doesn’t mean that the tight end position has become any less important to the Indianapolis Colts offense.
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Colts have stocked up on tight ends
- Auto Racing
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AP/Dave Parker Dario Franchitti, center, of Scotland, leads teammate Scott Dixon, bottom, of New Zealand, and Tony Kanaan, top, of Brazil, to the finish line on the final lap of the Indianapolis 500 Sunday.
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Brick by brick: With 3rd win, Franchitti adds another layer to Indy 500 resume
Dario Franchitti won the Indianapolis 500 for the third time on Sunday and did it in dramatic fashion.
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Brick by brick: With 3rd win, Franchitti adds another layer to Indy 500 resume
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