Vontae Davis MRI Negative; Other Injury Updates

The Colts got some very good injury news today as top cornerback Vontae Davis's MRI came back negative and he is day-to-day, according to head coach Chuck Pagano.  Davis suffered a groin injury during Sunday's win over the Jaguars and did not return.

Defensive lineman Aubrayo Franklin (knee) and outside linebacker Bjoern Werner (ankle) also suffered injuries during Sunday's win and both did not return, but Pagano said that both of them are day-to-day as well.

This is great news for the Colts, who elected to play their starters and not rest them (like the Colts of old or the current Kansas City Chiefs did), and the decision by Pagano was the right one.  However, it also meant there was injury risk, and the Colts suffered injuries to three significant defensive players.  It appears that none of them are very serious, however, and that is a huge sigh of relief to the Colts and their fans.

Davis is one of the most important players for the defense to have healthy, as especially early on in the season he was playing at a very elite level.  Just like everyone else on the team, Davis struggled mid-season but he has improved in recent weeks.  He is made especially important since Greg Toler (who is supposed to be the number two corner whenever he gets fully healthy) is still recovering from a groin injury that kept him out for seven weeks, limited him to 7 snaps a week ago and then 19 this week - and Pagano said that after those 19 snaps, he was a little sore.  Darius Butler has done a decent job filling in, but his best spot is in the slot anyways.  Having Davis out there this week would be huge for the Colts.

Werner had a rough season early on but has really come on strong in recent weeks (well, at least very strong compared to earlier) and has been a part of a much improved Colts pass rush in the past three games.  Franklin has done an admirable job this year along the defensive line and while he isn't a pro bowl guy, he still is an important player to have this weekend.

Additionally, some of the other injured guys - offensive lineman Mike McGlynn, defensive lineman Cory Redding, and safety/special teams ace Sergio Brown - should all practice tomorrow, Pagano said.  Getting those three back - especially Redding and Brown - would also be huge going into this Saturday's game against the Chiefs.

This is about as healthy as the Colts have been in a long time.  The Colts are also playing as well as they have all season.  Both of those things give Colts fans plenty of reason for hope going forward as we now enter playoff season.