IndyFootball Report Editor John Oehser takes a look at Wednesday’s ninth day of 2009 Indianapolis Colts Training Camp . . .
The Colts went through another light-morning, padded afternoon day Wednesday, working for about an hour in shorts in the morning practice and practicing in full pads in the afternoon session at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
Among the major news of the day: S Antoine Bethea sustained a broken bone in his hand. Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell said he likely will play with the hand wrapped.
Also, TE Dallas Clark continued to miss practice with what Caldwell called a ”slight concussion” and RT Ryan Diem likely will miss a few days with a back injury, Caldwell said.
“He twisted his back a little bit,” Caldwell said of Diem. “We just anticipate it’s going to take some time and a little rest. How long that’s going to take, I’m not certain. He’s making progress.”
Caldwell said the Colts anticipate Clark returning Monday.
Caldwell also discussed the team’s approach in the preseason opener against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.
“Really,we’re looking for performance more than anything else,” Caldwell said. “We have this sign in our locker room to take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves. What we’re trying to do is make certain they focus on techniques and fundamentals. The outcome of the game will take care of itself.”
“We have a lot of work to do between now and then. I feel good about where we are, but the game will roll around and we’ll certainly take care of that when the time comes.”
Other camp notes and highlights:
* Caldwell on how carries will be split between RBs Joseph Addai and Donald Brown: ”It depends on who you face, and what kind of defensive structure you have to deal with. Strategy changes. But one thing we do know for sure is there will be some sort of rotation.”
*Caldwell said as of Wednesday afternoon he doesn’t know how extensively the starters will play in the preseason opener Friday against Minnesota. “That’s something we’ll talk about this evening.”
* The Colts are 3-15 in the preseason since 2005. “It (winning) is something that would be a little bit different for us around here,” Caldwell said, laughing. “Nevertheless, still our objective is to win. No question about that, but we look at the prseason as an opportunity to get better and were concerned abiout that moresom than anything else.”
* RB Donald Brown, a first-round selection in the 2009 NFL Draft, had one of his better practices of 2009 Training Camp. He had several long runs, and cut hard and crisp through holes at the line of scrimmage. He also caught a short touchdown from QB Peyton Manning in practice Tuesday afternoon.
* S Jamie Silva had an interception in the afternoon practice.
* CB Kelvin Hayden missed practice with a hamstring injury in the afternoon. He has missed several practices the last few days.
* Colts K Adam Vinatieri, S Bob Sanders and WR Sam Giguere are the last remaining players on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Vinatieri underwent offseason hip and knee surgeries and is expected back by the regular season.
