Injury Update on Hugh Thornton, Reggie Wayne, A.Q. Shipley, and Others

In the Colts' win 27-10 win on Sunday over the Tennessee Titans, the main hope was to stay injury free.  The Colts did that for the most part, although in the win three players did leave with injuries: offensive linemen A.Q. Shipley and Hugh Thornton and wide receiver Reggie Wayne.

Wayne injured his groin after an 80-yard reception - the longest reception by a receiver 36-years old or older in NFL history - on which he fell just one yard short of the end zone.  He didn't return to the game, but he appeared fine on the sidelines and he said after the game that, "I'll be ready next week." Chuck Pagano said this afternoon that Wayne came in today and that he feels good and the plan is for him to be back at practice either Wednesday or Thursday.  He's officially day-to-day.  On Colts Monday Night on 1070 the Fan tonight, Bob Lamey added that he had texted with Reggie earlier and the receiver told Lamey that he'll be out there Sunday - adding that the announcer better be there Sunday as well (Lamey, the Colts' longtime radio announcer, missed yesterday's game due to illness).  In other words: it seems like almost a certainty that the veteran receiver will be out there this weekend - in a game that might end up being his last ever home game for the Colts.

As for A.Q. Shipley, he went down with an ankle injury that initially appeared serious, but the Colts dodged a bullet as Shipley will be day-to-day as well, Chuck Pagano said.  Of course, with the Colts the day-to-day designation doesn't give us much insight into whether the player will play the following week, but at least it's not considered to be a serious injury.  Since it's the playoffs, the Colts might be a little less cautious with their day-to-day guys, but either way they really haven't used Shipley much recently - though on Sunday he did start at left guard.  He's a valuable player to have around, whether as a starter or depth.

Hugh Thornton injured his shoulder in the game yesterday, and was seen by the CBS cameras yesterday heading to the locker room on a cart during the game.  When he spoke to the media earlier in the day, Chuck Pagano listed Thornton as day-to-day because he was waiting to get some more information back from tests, but on his weekly radio show tonight on 1070 the Fan he said that Thornton is actually week-to-week, and Pagano didn't sound too positive about it.  The last time Thornton was listed as week-to-week (with a knee injury), he missed the next four games.  While we can't really compare to two because they're different injuries, that at least gives you an idea that the timetable for Thornton could be a while before he's back - and with the playoffs starting this week, there's a real chance that Thornton won't return for the Colts this season.  Again, this depends on details and we're reading into Pagano's comments, but tonight he listed Thornton as "week-to-week" and that's not a very encouraging report considering it's playoff time.

Furthermore, Chuck Pagano also said that tight end Dwayne Allen, offensive linemen Gosder Cherilus and Joe Reitz, and inside linebacker Jerrell Freeman should be back at practice on Wednesday, as all four of them missed yesterday's game with injuries.  Outside linebacker Bjoern Werner, who also was out yesterday, is still "day-to-day" with his shoulder, Pagano said today.