Indianapolis Colts RB Donald Brown says he’s ready to “get things rolling.”
Brown, the Colts’ first-round selection in the 2009 NFL Draft who has missed the last two games with a shoulder injury, said Wednesday he expects to practice this week, although as has been the case the last two weeks, Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell was more cautious in his assesment.
“We’re anticipating he’ll practice today, and we’ll see how it goes from there,” Caldwell said as the Colts (8-0) prepared to play the New England Patriots (6-2) at Lucas Oil Stadium Sunday at 8 p.m.
Brown, who sustained a shoulder injury against St. Louis October 25, has said each of the last two Wednesdays he expected to practice and hoped to play that weekend. He did not practice two weeks ago and practiced Wednesday and Thursday last week before missing Friday.
“It has been a frustrating last couple of weeks, to say the least,” Brown said.
He was expected to practice Wednesday, as was WR Austin Collie, who left Sunday’s victory over San Francisco with a neck injury.
“I practiced last week, then they made the decision at the end of the week that it was in the best interest to not go that week,” Brown said. “This is a new week.”
The Colts also have signed DB Anthony Madison and released DE Josh Thomas, who spent 2004-2008 with the Colts before signing late last week and playing against Houston. The Colts placed two members of the secondary – S Bob Sanders and CB Marlin Jackson – on injured reserve last week. CB Kelvin Hayden (knee) is expected to be out another 2-to-3 weeks.
Caldwell said the hope is that Madison – who has spent time during four NFL seasons with Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay and Cleveland — can play at least a special teams role Sunday.
“Hopefully he’s a quick study and we can relieve some of the problems in terms of overload for some of our younger guys,” Caldwell said.
Also, Colts TE Dallas Clark on Wednesday was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week. He tied a franchise-record with 14 receptions Sunday.
“He’s never been underappreciated around here,” QB Peyton Manning said of Clark, who never has made the Pro Bowl.
