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The positive news on the injury front for the Colts heading into Week 9 is that they are likely to get outside linebacker Bjoern Werner back for their Sunday night match-up against the Texans. Werner has been out since he sustained a foot injury against the Jaguars in Week 4.
The negative is Indy will be thin at corner, as starter Greg Toler and reserve Josh Gordy are listed as OUT for Sunday night. Also out is reserve safety Delano Howell, who suffered a neck injury two weeks ago in Indy's 39-33 win over Denver in Week 7.
With Toler out, Cassius Vaughn will get the start at corner. Darius Butler will remain at as the slot corner.
Another key defensive player who is listed as OUT and (like Toler, Gordy, and Howell) did not make the trip to Houston with the team is nose tackle Josh Chapman.
Josh Chapman, Josh Gordy, Delano Howell and Greg Toler will not travel with the Colts to Houston. Chapman's knee flared up overnight
— Mike Wells (@MikeWellsNFL) November 2, 2013
Expected to play this week are center Samson Satele and wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey. DHB, who is dealing with a hamstring injury, missed practice during the week leading up to the game, but is listed as probable.
Outside of the Toler and Chapman injuries, the Colts defense is as healthy as it's been all season coming out of their bye week. They face newly anointed starter Case Keenum, who is taking over the quarterback reigns from an apparently healthy Matt Schaub.