Indianapolis Colts QB Jim Sorgi grew up in Fraser, Mich., 15 miles from Detroit. He played near his hometown once, as a rookie, and in a week, he’d like to do so again.
The question is, ‘Will he?’
And for now the question is unanswered.
Sorgi, who missed the Colts’ first two preseason games with a hamstring injury, returned to practice Saturday and Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell said the plan is for Sorgi to begin doing more when the team returns to practice Tuesday to begin preparing to play the Lions on Saturday, August 29. But for now, that status is still a bit uncertain.
“I can get out and throw a little bit, move around and see how it feels with a little bit more activity,” Sorgi said Saturday. “Hopefully, I can go back home to Detroit where I’m from and play some football.”
Asked if that was realistic, he replied, ”I’m not ruling it out, I’m not ruling it in. I’m just kind of going day by day and see how it feels tomorrow from what I did today and try to get out there Tuesday and do a full practice and see how it feels after that.
“If things keep progressing like they have been I think there’s a really good chance.”
Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell said it’s uncertain if Sorgi will play against Detroit, but said the plan is for Sorgi to “ramp it up a little bit” beginning Tuesday.
“Right now, we anticipate he’s going to be able to move forward and be just fine,” Caldwell said. ”If he doesn’t, then we’ll have to look at another scenario (such as re-signing rookie QB Chris Crane, who was released Saturday upon Sorgi’s return).”
Sorgi estimated he’s spending about $500 for tickets for family and friends.
“Hopefully, they’ll let me get on the field. I’ve got a lot of people coming, a lot of family, a lot of friends, people I haven’t talked to in ages. They probably want to come see (Detroit Lions rookie QB) Matt Stafford more than me, but they’re calling asking for tickets.”
Sorgi said he felt the first week of training camp — before his injury — was progressing well.
“I’ve been doing things to try to speed up the healing process,” Sorgi said. “Originally they were saying around three weeks until I get back and it’s been two weeks almost to the day. I’m ahead of schedule and I feel good. It will be nice to get out there and start throwing the ball and be with the guys again. You feel kind of like an outsider when you’re hurt. You’re not so much in the plans.”
Sorgi, who missed the last two games of last year’s preseason with a knee injury, said being healthy in the preseason is critical considering Colts starting QB Peyton Manning rarely misses snaps in the regular season.
“This is where I get most of my work, in the preseason,” Sorgi said. “We’re going to game plan for Detroit and I want to be in on the game plan. I don’t want to push it to the regular season because then I’m going into the regular season without getting any reps. In case something happens I don’t want to go out there and my first snap to be second or third game of the season when all the chips are on the line.”
Saturday news and notes:
* With Sorgi having returned, the Colts released rookie QB Chris Crane, who spent the offseason with the team and re-signed shortly after Sorgi sustained his injury.
* The Colts on Saturday released LB Adam Seward, a five-year veteran who signed as a free agent this past offseason. He had been working as a reserve middle linebacker. His release leaves eight linebackers on the roster: starters Gary Brackett (MLB), Philip Wheeler (SLB) and Clint Session (WLB) and veteran reserves Freddie Keiaho, Tyjuan Hagler and Jordan Senn. The Colts often have kept seven linebackers. Rookies Ramon Humber and LB Mike Tauililli are the other Colts linebackers.
* RB Mike Hart, competing for the third running back spot, likely will miss at least two weeks with a left ankle injury, Caldwell said. He earlier missed a week of practice and the preseason opener with a sprained right ankle. With Hart out, the Colts re-signed RB Walter Mendenhall, who played collegiately at Illinois State. The Colts signed and released Mendenhall earlier in training camp.
* The Colts, after breaking camp in Terre Haute, Ind., Wednesday, will have days off Sunday and Monday, then approach next week as a “game preparation” week,” coach Jim Caldwell said. Indianapolis plays Detroit in the third 2009 preseason game next Saturday.
* With a series of injuries at safety to Bob Sanders, Antoine Bethea and Matt Giordano, the Colts on Saturday signed free agent Marcus Paschal, who has spent time with Philadelphia and Atlanta. He played three games with Philadelphia in 2007.
* The Colts held several players out of practice Saturday for rest purposes, Caldwell said Saturday. Among those players was first-round RB Donald Brown.
