His wait is nearly over, and Indianapolis Colts S Bob Sanders said Friday he couldn’t be more ready.

Sanders, who has missed the first five games of the season after spending preseason and training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list with a knee injury, practiced for a second time in three days Friday. Before the Colts’ practice at their Westside Indianapolis training facility Friday morning, Head Coach Jim Caldwell said Sanders definitely will make his 2009 debut Sunday.

“It’s an exciting feeling,” Sanders said early Friday afternoon as the AFC South-leading Colts (5-0) prepared to play the St. Louis Rams (0-6) at Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Mo., Sunday at 1 p.m. “I’m excited. Just getting ready, gearing up.”

Sanders, who missed 10 games in 2004 and 2006 and 12 games last season, will start Sunday, according to Caldwell.

“If he can go, he’s starting,” Caldwell said.

Sanders, the 2007 Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year, practiced on a limited basis twice before the Colts’ 31-9 victory at Tennessee October 11, but Wednesday marked the first time this season he had practiced full speed. He wasn’t listed on the Colts’ injury report that day, but appeared on it Thursday as not injury related-rested/knee, which set off discussion in the blogosphere. But Sanders’ rest day Thursday was no different than recent seasons when the Colts typically held him out of practice on Thursdays of game weeks when he has played.

Caldwell had said Wednesday Sanders likely wouldn’t practice every day this week and said whether or not he practiced every day would not determine whether or not he played Sunday.

Sanders’ status on Friday’s injury report was that he participated fully and will play.

“He’s feeling good,” Caldwell said. “We . . . Read more