Colts Tuesday Injury Report: Two Starting Offensive Linemen Miss Practice

The Colts are back at work today on a Tuesday (their normal day off) due to their game this week being on a Thursday night.  That also means that there is less time for injured guys to recover, meaning that this week's injury report is likely more telling and significant than most weeks.  As it is, here is the Colts' official injury report for today:

Darius Butler, CB (ankle) - did not practice

Arthur Jones, DL (ankle) - did not practice

Jack Mewhort, OL (ankle) - did not practice

Hugh Thornton, OL (back) - did not practice

Reggie Wayne, WR (rest) - did not practice

Bjoern Werner, OLB (ankle) - full practice

Jerrell Freeman, LB (hamstring) - limited practice

A few thoughts...

• Chuck Pagano noted this in his press conference today, but on a short week there is plenty of reason to be concerned about the injured guys.  Darius Butler, Arthur Jones, and Jack Mewhort did not practice for the second straight day, and then Hugh Thornton didn't practice today either after he was limited yesterday.  The Colts play Thursday.  Today is Tuesday.  There just isn't a lot of time to turn around between games and there isn't a lot of time for players to get healthy.  While Pagano hasn't ruled anybody out yet, my general approach is that I wouldn't be expecting any of those who didn't practice today (other than Reggie, of course) to play on Thursday.  Perhaps one or two of them might go, but I wouldn't expect it.
• If both Mewhort and Thornton are out, it seems likely that Lance Louis and Joe Reitz would start at the guard spots.  Chuck Pagano also noted that A.Q. Shipley has experience at guard as well.
• While Josh Gordy is a good fourth corner, the loss Darius Butler would really hurt the Colts.  Good thing they're facing Ryan Fitzpatrick…
• Looks like, as expected yesterday, Bjoern Werner should be ready to go for Thursday as long as he responds well to full practice today.
• Jerrell Freeman wasn't on the injury report yesterday but was limited today.  I don't think it's anything too serious but instead the Colts just taking it cautiously, but it's at least something to watch with it being a short week.