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Injuries Force Colts To Shuffle Players Around

Last updated on Thursday, December 4, 2008

(INDIANAPOLIS, IN) - The Indianapolis Colts were back at practice Wednesday as they began preparing for Sunday’s game with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Head Coach Tony Dungy announced that middle linebacker Gary Brackett will miss at least two games with a cracked bone in his leg. Brackett was carted off the field in the second quarter of the Colts win in Cleveland last Sunday. Dungy is hopeful that Brackett will be back to full strength in time for the playoffs.

Second year linebacker Buster Davis will start in the middle for Brackett this Sunday against the Bengals. Freddy Keiaho finished last week's game at middle linebacker, but Keiaho may be needed on the outside due to Tyjuan Hagler's knee injury.

The Colts also signed linebacker Rufus Alexander off the Minnesota practice squad. To make room for Alexander, the Colts waived defensive back Brandon Foster and re-signed him to the practice squad.

Brackett, Hagler, defensive tackle Keyunta Dawson, safety Bob Sanders and center Jeff Saturday missed Wednesday's practice with injuries. Sanders did participate in Wednesday's walk-through and Dungy was expecting him to practice. Sanders has missed the last three games with swelling in his knee.

Dawson and Saturday are expected to miss Sunday's game.

Safety Antoine Bethea, defensive ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, cornerback Tim Jennings and wide receiver Reggie Wayne were given Wednesday's practice off to rest.

Mathis Honored

Mathis was named AFC defensive player of the week on Wednesday. Mathis had two sacks and returned a fumble 37 yards for the game-winning score in the Colts' 10-6 win over the Cleveland Browns.

For Mathis, the touchdown was the first of his career on any level of football. It is the second time he has been named the defensive player of the week. He previously won the award in 2004.

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