Colts In The Market For Safeties

Lost during the focus on Austin Collie's injury was the fact that a couple safeties dropped during Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Colts lost safeties Mike Newton and Al Aflava on the same play, a 78-yard controversial punt return touchdown by Jacksonville returner Mike Thomas (who flipped into the endzone and taunted fans, as if his cheap touchdown would go down in history or something.) 

What does this mean besides more bitter injury news for Colts fans to digest?  Currently, safeties Antoine Bethea and Aaron Francisco are the only healthy safeties on the roster!  Shelved on IR at the moment are safeties Bob Sanders, Melvin Bullitt, Jamie Silva, Chip Vaughn, Brandon King and David Caldwell.  The Colts might soon add Newton (neck) or Aflava (ankle), or potentially both, to that list in order to sign a street safety to throw himself around on special teams for a few weeks.

Obviously, to say that the safety position has been decimated would be the understatement of the century.  The Colts need some help.  At this point, they need Francisco healthy, and that statement alone tells you all you need to know about the injury situation.  It's ridiculous, and it brings to light the Sanders issue once again.  You can see now, given the thread-bare talent that's now given way, why Bill Polian likely kept Sanders on the shelf, hoping for a return.  On the same hand, I can't help but wonder what Dr. James Andrews said.  If he projected a return at any point this season or postseason, it would seem foolish for the Colts to have put Sanders on IR over someone like Mike Hart, given the Colts are trending toward healthy at the RB position and have never had any less than three healthy RBs available on gameday.

Sanders situation aside -- and looking back, at this point, is simply fueled by speculation -- the Colts will need to introduce some new players to West 56th Street this week.  A safe bet is DaJuan Morgan, formerly cut by the Colts after spending a few weeks on the active roster.  As the Star notes, there is currently only one defensive back listed on the practice squad (John Destin), so unless he projects as a safety, the Colts are going to have to look elsewhere.

Are any of you guys in playing shape?