FORT LAUDERDALE — Indianapolis Colts DE Dwight Freeney spent Saturday’s workout in a golf cart.
But while that doesn’t change the status of the Colts’ five-time Pro Bowl selection, the Colts did get good and expected news regarding four-time WR Reggie Wayne Saturday.
Wayne, who left practice after aggravating an existing injury Friday, returned Saturday and according to a Pro Football Writers Association pool report participated in a 35-minute walkthrough at the Miami Dolphins’ training facility with the first-team offense.
The work was the last of the week for the Colts before Super Bowl XLIV.
Freeney, who has not practiced since the AFC Championship Game two weeks ago, is expected to play, perhaps on a limited basis, according to ESPN NFL analyst Adam Schefter. DE Raheem Brock and two-time Pro Bowl selection Robert Mathis, as well as Keyunta Dawson, will be key to the line rotation whether Freeney plays or is limited.
CB Jerraud Powers, who practiced on a limited basis Friday, worked in that same capacity. He had been out since sustaining a foot injury – an injury that required surgery – in the Colts’ AFC Divisional Playoff victory over Baltimore.
“He’s better than yesterday,” Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell said of Freeney as the AFC Champion Colts (16-2) prepared to play the NFC Champion Saints (15-3) in Super Bowl XLIV Sunday at 6:25.
“He and Powers both are better than yesterday. It’s still day to day.”
Wayne, according to the pool report, “left Friday’s practice 20 minutes early after injuring the fat pad in his right knee, but he was available for the full session Saturday.
“The fat pad is the soft tissue below the kneecap,” PFWA pool reporter Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports wrote. “Wayne has been playing much of the season with some irritation in the pad. But he moved without restriction Saturday, and at the conclusion of practice ran about 40 yards to the locker room without favoring the knee in any way. “
Robinson also reported that, “The light 35-minute walkthrough was held in gentle breezes and the mid 70’s, and the Colts moved swiftly through their final tune-up.
“Freeney spent the session circling different personnel groupings in a cart, wearing his standard practice dress, including cleats,” he wrote. “After practice, he exited his cart and walked gingerly into the locker room, however his right ankle was not wrapped and he didn’t receive treatment of any form during the short session.”
Caldwell also told Robinson that he was pleased with the week and that all work “went according to plan.”
“We’ve done extremely well and been attentive,” Caldwell said. “The [players] have been very, very focused and our practices have been sharp as well. Overall we’ve been moving in the right direction.”
