The Colts are getting healthier at the right time, and Thursday’s injury report gave Indianapolis a little more breathing room heading into Sunday’s meeting with Houston.
The biggest swing for the Colts is in the receiving room. Alec Pierce is headed for Injured Reserve soon, which will keep him out for at least the next four games.
Indianapolis is still holding out hope he can make it back later this season after he re-aggravated the surgically repaired heel that knocked him out in last Sunday’s game. Ashton Dulin is also still sidelined and is being treated as week-to-week after missing Sunday’s contest as well.
That left Laquon Treadwell in a larger offensive role last week, while the Colts shuffled special teams work too. Deion Burks and Cam Taylor-Britt handled gunner duties, and Seth McGowan plus Anthony Gould took over kickoff returns with Dulin unavailable.
There was at least one encouraging development on Thursday: Charvarius Ward Sr. went from not participating on Wednesday to limited work, after leaving Sunday’s game early. If Ward can’t suit up against the Texans, Justin Walley could slide out of the slot and onto the boundary to cover his spot, with either Taylor-Britt or Kapena Gushiken stepping in at slot corner.
On the other side, Houston’s report still has some heavy names on it. Trent Brown did not participate Wednesday, and his availability matters for an offensive line that has already allowed seven sacks through two games while the run game is sitting at just 2.8 yards per carry. If Brown can’t play Sunday, Blake Fisher is listed as the backup right tackle.
The Texans are also watching Nico Collins closely. He did not practice Wednesday, and after missing last week’s game, he remains the most important name on Houston’s report. Collins has averaged 4.7 catches for 89.4 yards per game in his career against the Colts.
Houston also listed Jadeveon Clowney, Jake Hummel, Ed Ingram and Dalton Schultz as non-participants on Wednesday. Will Anderson Jr. and Logan Hall were limited, along with M.J. Stewart, while Reed Blankenship and Wade Woodaz were full participants.
In Other News...
Colts May Get A Huge Defensive Boost For Must Win Texans Test
The Colts are getting some encouraging signs on the defensive side as they prepare for a Week 3 showdown with the Texans. Cornerback Charvarius Ward, who has been dealing with a groin injury, is trending toward being available for the matchup, a development that would matter plenty for an Indianapolis secondary facing a pivotal early-season test.
Wards status is still the main item to watch, especially with his recent concussion history from last season lingering in the background. Indianapolis has already ruled out wide receiver Ashton Dulin for the game, so any boost from Ward would help balance out what the Colts can bring to a must-win division battle in Houston. [Read more 🡒]
Sauce Gardners Colts Start Has Brought More Heat Than Answers
Sauce Gardner arrived in Indianapolis with the sort of rsum that usually comes with instant credibility, and he has tried to bring that same edge to the Colts secondary. A two-time first-team All-Pro and the 2023 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, Gardner has already stepped into a leadership role since the trade from the Jets, even as the broader results have been uneven and the team has dropped to 1-3 with him in the building.
Justin Walley has been asked to fill in at nickel corner in Gardners absence, and the rookie has been getting thrown into the kind of reps that can speed up development whether the day goes cleanly or not. It has been a useful stretch for the Colts to see what they have behind their headline addition, but it also underscores the larger question hanging over the move: when Gardner is on the field, how quickly can this start turn from intrigue into the kind of impact Indianapolis expected? [Read more 🡒]
Jonathan Taylor Already Has The Texans Worried Before Colts Showdown
Jonathan Taylor is already the name Houston is circling ahead of Sundays Week 3 meeting, and it is not hard to see why. The Colts running back has tied for the league lead in rushing touchdowns through two weeks, giving Indianapolis a clear focal point as both teams head into the game still looking for their first win of the season.
DeMeco Ryans singled Taylor out as the player Houston has to stop, a telling sign of how much attention the Texans are putting on the Colts' ground game. With Houstons defense having struggled early and Indianapolis bringing a back who can tilt a game quickly, this matchup already feels like it could come down to whether the Texans can slow Taylor before he gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]