Colts rule starting safety Mike Adams out for game versus Falcons

The Indianapolis Colts will be without their starting safety on Sunday when they take on the Atlanta Falcons, as Mike Adams has been ruled out with an ankle injury that caused him to miss practice all week.  As for inside linebacker D'Qwell Jackson, he is probable for the game, but another inside linebacker, Josh McNary, didn't practice today with a groin injury and is questionable.  Quarterback Andrew Luck has obviously been ruled out but will travel with the team and will be on the sideline.

Adams was injured during the Colts' 27-24 win over the Denver Broncos, after he picked off a Peyton Manning pass that was tipped.  It initially looked serious, but afterward it sounded like he was fine.  That can have different meanings, however, and despite the bye week last week Adams didn't practice at all this week.  Only two players this year have played in a game after missing an entire week of practice (Vontae Davis in week five and T.Y. Hilton in week nine), and it's rarity to see happen.

With Adams out of the lineup, Colt Anderson will probably step in as the team's starter alongside Dwight Lowery.  Anderson made a start earlier this year with Adams out of the lineup and does a capable job when asked to fill in.  It's possible that we'll see Clayton Geathers see more playing time too, rotating in with Anderson occasionally.  Head coach Chuck Pagano wouldn't say today who will start, saying only that it's "all hands on deck." My guess is that it will be Anderson, but we'll have to see how the Colts decide to handle that.  Either way the loss of Adams will hurt.  He's tied for the league lead with five interceptions and he has been one of the best Colts players through the first half of the year.  The Colts will be without two starters on the defensive side of the football, as defensive end Henry Anderson tore his ACL in the team's last game and is out for the year.

Jackson was injured on Monday during practice and missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday before returning today.  Head coach Chuck Pagano didn't sound too concerned on Wednesday when talking about it, but then again he expected Jackson back on Thursday, which obviously didn't happen.  It sounds like he'll be ready to go, but if not, guys like Nate Irving, Josh McNary, and Sio Moore would be in the running to fill in. [UPDATE: McNary is listed as questionable with a groin injury that he apparently suffered in practice this week, as he showed up on the injury report for the first time on Friday.]