WR Wayne is expected to play Sunday despite knee injury

All-Pro defensive end Dwight Freeney is still questionable for Sunday’s Super Bowl game against the New Orleans Saints; another Colts starter got a scaring injury during Friday’s practice. It was wide receiver Reggie Wayne who had to leave practice 20 minutes early after hurting his right knee.

Coach Jim Caldwell said Wayne hurt the soft tissue below his kneecap. Wayne is listed as probable and Caldwell plans on him playing against the Saints in his No. 7 Colts jersey. Wayne got through the injury most of the season, and Friday’s hurt aggravated the injury.

Freeney continued missing practice and the Colts remain uncertain whether he would play the game. As Freeney said he would test the ankle Friday, Caldwell said Freeney might do some running or participate in a simulated practice later in the day. It’s likely that Freeney could work out Saturday.

Six Colts players skipped Tuesday practice because of injuries

While the Indianapolis Colts Coach Jim Caldwell insisted that his healthy starters will all put on their Colts jerseys to play this Thursday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, several of them have missed Tuesday practice because of injuries.

Those injured players playing last Sunday’s game but missing Tuesday practice included Pro Bowl defensive ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, both were supposed to be the starter with the Colts for Thursday’s game. The others were cornerback Jerraud Powers, safety Antoine Bethea, defensive lineman Eric Foster and left tackle Charlie Johnson.

Another four players did not play last Sunday’s game and continued missing practice. They were Anthony Gonzalez with knee injury, kicker Adam Vinatieri with knee injury, running back Donald Brown with chest injury and safety Aaron Francisco with ankle injury.

Colts DE Freeney returned to practice and may play Sunday

After missing last week’s game against the Houston Texans, the Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney returned to practice Thursday in his Colts jersey and is expected to play his role in this Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans.

And he may be able to cooperate with cornerback Kelvin Hayden, who practiced Thursday for the second straight day since he injured a knee four weeks ago. While Freeney only missed last week’s game with an abdominal injury, Hayden has missed as many as four straight games. So returning of both players may bring more advantages to the 11-0 Colts in this Sunday’s game.

Perhaps we should not be very optimistic as seven of the Colts’ 23 players on its practice report did not appear in practice for both Wednesday and Thursday, including wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez, kicker Adam Vinatieri, running back Donald Brown, defensive tackle Keyunta Dawson and left tackle Charlie Johnson.