The injury picture got a lot cleaner for both the Colts and Vikings on Thursday, and that matters plenty with Indianapolis heading into Sunday’s road test against an undefeated Minnesota team coming off its bye.
For the Colts, the big theme was movement in the right direction. Seven players who were working through injuries Wednesday moved up their participation level a day later, while Minnesota had every injured player on the field in full.
That’s a welcome turn for Indianapolis, which enters the matchup at 2-4 with a long list to monitor. Sauce Gardner (calf), Anthony Gould (concussion), Rigoberto Sanchez (right foot), and Tyler Warren (groin) all remained out Thursday.
Grover Stewart was also held out, though his absence was listed as rest. The Colts also had CB Justin Walley listed as limited with a knee issue, along with LB CJ Allen, who was added to the report Thursday with an ankle injury.
The encouraging part for Indianapolis was the group that made it back to full work. Keenan Allen, Bryce Boettcher, Jaylon Carlies, Matt Goncalves, Drew Ogletree, Jonathan Taylor, Jerry Tillery, Jalen Travis, and Charvarius Ward Sr. all finished the day as full participants.
That’s especially notable for Carlies and Ashton Dulin, who practiced Wednesday for the first time since Week 4 after missing the last two games. Carlies has been starting at WILL linebacker, while Dulin’s reps at receiver and in the return game had been absorbed by Laquon Treadwell and Gould.
The injuries to Gardner, Gould, Sanchez, and Warren were already on the radar after Sunday’s loss to Tennessee. Warren missed his first game of the season, while the others left that game, though Sanchez did manage to return.
Boettcher, Goncalves, Ogletree, and Walley were the newer names on the report, and they all handled more work Thursday than they did the day before. Walley is the one to watch closely; if he can’t go, the Colts would be thin at slot corner, with Kapena Gushiken likely next up while Cam Taylor-Britt would have to cover for Gardner.
Minnesota’s report was much cleaner. Coming out of the bye, the Vikings had a fully healthy practice group on Thursday, with every injured player listed as a full participant.
Jordan Addison, Christian Darrisaw, Charles Demmings, T.J. Hockenson, Justin Jefferson, Jordan Mason, Brian O’Neill, and James Pierre all took full reps. The three players who were limited on Wednesday were all upgraded, giving Minnesota a clean bill of health heading into Sunday.
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