As Hasselbeck crumbled to the ground, the 288-pound Heyward fell on him, compressing Hasselbeck’s neck. Because of a Houston loss Sunday, Indianapolis (6-6) remains in first place via the tiebreaker.
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With Andrew Luck still sidelined by a lacerated kidney and shoulder injury, the Colts could be forced to turn to Charlie Whitehurst, who played the final two drives against the Steelers. I can’t say enough about him and his performance.
“You don’t always have to run it well, but you have to run it. If you get the number of carries, and we’re continuing to mix it in and make it part of what we do, for people to stop it, they have to commit people to the box and be aggressive in trying to stop it”, offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski said. It’s unlikely that Andrew Luck is ready to return; Colts owner Jim Irsay said the team is targeting Week 15 to have Luck back.
Houston, meanwhile, is home against suddenly-reeling New England Sunday before its visit to Indy, where it’s 0-13 all-time, a December 27 trip to Tennessee and a January 3 home game with Jacksonville. He started and won two games earlier this season when Luck was out with an injured throwing shoulder.
Colts coach Chuck Pagano, however, dispelled fears Monday that Hasselbeck wouldn’t get a chance to bounce back from his first loss in five starts this season.
Had Jones not intercepted the pass, safety Will Allen likely would’ve as he had stepped in front of Colts tight end Coby Fleener in the end zone. In 2013, they wrapped it up with three games to play.
Coach Chuck Pagano was optimistic Hasselbeck will remain under center.
“What are we going to do?” A cast will be required.
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Pagano also described left tackle Luck, Anthony Castonzo (knee) and linebacker Jerrell Freeman (hamstring) as week-to-week. Receiver Phillip Dorsett (lower leg) and right guard Hugh Thornton (elbow) are expected to return to practice Wednesday….
