Obviously when you have a quarterback of the stature of Peyton Manning, his inability to play will dominate the headlines. The Colts got crushed in their first opportunity to play with Kerry Collins under center in a divisional matchup with the Texans last week. Don’t think for a second that as the Browns attempt to fill multiple vacancies due to injury that the Colts aren’t also trying to do the same.
Last year when Scott Fujita went down for the Browns it was pretty noticeable that the Browns’ field general was absent as well. The Colts face the same thing this week as their talented linebacker and captain Gary Bracket is nursing some kind of shoulder injury. His status for this week has been downgraded to out according to the Indianapolis Star. Bracket’s backup is… ummm… hmm. According to the depth chart on the Colts’ webpage on NFL.com the backup for Gary Bracket is nobody.
The Colts will also be missing veteran backup outside linebacker Ernie Sims. That means unless the Colts go out and bring someone in, their linebacking corps will be some combination of Pat Angerer, Kavell Conner, Adrian Moten and Phillip Wheeler. Obviously the Colts have standout defensive ends in Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, but I think I just heard Peyton Hillis telling Pat Shurmur to give him a steady diet of footballs in the gut this weekend.
Gary Bracket played last weekend against the Texans and the Colts still gave up 167 yards and two touchdowns without Arian Foster playing at all. Ben Tate – 2nd year runner from Auburn – did the bulk of the damage with 24 carries and 116 yards. Is it any wonder that Browns coach Pat Shurmur made it sound like we could see a steady diet of Hillis and Montario Hardesty lining up in the same backfield for the Browns this week?
You know who else could benefit? Those tight ends that work the middle of the field where Gary Bracket would normally roam.
FANTASY ALERT! FANTASY ALERT! :-)
