Indianapolis Colts RB Mike Hart returned to practice Monday morning after missing last week with an ankle injury – that, after missing the last three months of his rookie season last season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

Hart, a sixth-round selection in the 2008 NFL Draft from the University of Michigan, missed the Colts’ preseason opener with the ankle injury. But on Monday he was working full speed, catching passes out of the backfield and making several crisp runs inside and outside in the morning practice.

“He looked good,” Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell said. “We’ll see how he feels after practice, but he’s making progress.”

Hart (5-feet-9, 202 pounds), Michigan’s all-time leading rusher, is competing with Lance Ball and Chad Simpson for the third-team running back position behind starter Joseph Addai and first-round running back Donald Brown.  He returned to work in the Colts’ organized team activities this past offseason, and began training camp working with the team until an ankle injury late in the first week of camp.

“It’s one of those things – an ankle’s not serious,” Hart said. “It just got rolled up. It’s one of those things where you know you’re not going to be out long. It’s a day-to-day thing. Now, it would have been something I need surgery on – a high-ankle sprain – then I would have been like . . . But it was a low, basketball sprain, so it was no big deal.”

Hart’s return came the same day that cornerback Kelvin Hayden (hamstring) and tight end Jacob Tamme also returned to practice. The trio was among the Colts players who missed the 13-3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in the 2009 preseason opener this past Friday.

“Especially after not playing football for a year, this is what gets you ready,” Hart said. “This is what gets you the feel back – you get out there and get tackled again, hit some guys, block some guys and get out there on special teams. Mentally, it just helps you a lot.”

Other news and notes from Monday training camp:

* Caldwell said defensive end Raheem Brock likely will miss 2-to-4 weeks with a hand injury sustained against Minnesota while defensive end Robert Mathis missed practice with a thigh bruise. Caldwell said the 2008 Pro Bowl selection is “day to day.”

* Starting defensive tackle Antonio Johnson, starting cornerback Marlin Jackson, starting wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez and starting left offensive tackle Charlie Johnson practiced after missing the preseason opener for precautionary reasons.

* Caldwell on Monday’s practice: “I think you find most of the guys in this business are here because of the fact that they’re very, very competitive. Our guys obviously are no different. They certainly felt that they weren’t pleased with their performance and they want to go out and do something about it. They performed extremely well today.” The morning workout was in full pads. “Any time you get full pads on after a couple of days rest – they like to put full pads on for a reason,” four-time Pro Bowl DE Dwight Freeney said. You get out there and start hitting again and that’s what you want.”

* Caldwell on Friday’s preseason opener: “There were a lot of positives. I could go down the line and name 30 of 40 guys who did a nice job. Sometimes, it doesn’t show up that way in terms of the box score, but overall, we had a lot of guys who played well.”

* Rookie WR Austin Collie had a touchdown catch in traffic Monday morning.

* WR Pierre Garcon had a rolling reception for a touchdown on a pass from QB Peyton Manning in morning red-zone drills. 

* CB Michael Coe missed practice Monday morning with a groin injury.

* LB Clint Session is making a smooth transition from SLB to WLB, Caldwell said: “He’s a guy who’s versatile enough he can do both.”

*Rookie CB Jerraud Powers had an interception in the morning practice. “We’re learning about him all the time,” Caldwell said. “We’re pleased with his progress.”

* TE Tom Santi continued to miss practice with a shoulder Monday, but Caldwell: “He’s improving rapidly.”

* TE Jacob Tamme returned to practice Monday after missing much of last week and Friday’s preseason opener.

 * S Antoine Bethea missed the morning practice with a hand injury that kept him out of Friday’s game, but worked in the afternoon.

 * CB Kelvin Hayden practiced Monday after missing much of last week – and the preseason opener – with a sore hamstring.

* WR Sam Giguere (leg) practiced Monday after being activated from the Physically Unable to Perform list last week.

 * TE Gijon Robinson missed practice Monday afternoon after being in an on-field collision Monday morning.