Colts hopeful safety Mike Adams will return to practice on Thursday

When Mike Adams was injured during the second quarter of the Colts' win against the Denver Broncos, it initially seemed as if Adams' injury might keep him out for a while.  Then, shortly after the game, however, things sounded more positive and it was hopeful that, with the bye week, he wouldn't miss much time.

Since then, Adams has missed two games in a row.  It has been hard to get an idea of when he will return, but after the safety missed practice today, head coach Chuck Pagano said that he's hopeful Adams will be back on the field on Thursday.

Of course, even if Adams does return tomorrow it doesn't mean that he will be ready to play on Sunday, but it's really the first indication that we've received regarding how much longer Adams will be out, and it sounds like it hopefully won't be too much longer.  Perhaps he'll be able to return this Sunday, but even if not, the fact that the Colts hope he'll be back at practice on Thursday is a very good sign.

In place of Adams, rookie Clayton Geathers has started the past two games and played well, likely earning a bit more playing time moving forward even when the starting duo of Mike Adams and Dwight Lowery is reunited.  There's zero doubt that Adams will get his starting spot back, though, as he was playing at a high level in the first half of the season.  In eight games this year, Adams has recorded 40 tackles, six passes defensed, five interceptions (tied for the second-most in the league despite missing three games), and one touchdown on a pick-six of Tom Brady.  After making the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career last year, Adams has once again played at a Pro Bowl level this year when healthy.

It would be big if the Colts could get Adams back for Sunday's night's game against the Steelers, a team that boasts as dangerous of a passing offense as any in the league.  Having Adams back in the secondary for that big early-December road game would be a nice boost to the team, and the Colts are hopeful that he'll at least return to practice on Thursday.  If he does that, it would figure that he'd have a good shot at playing this Sunday as well.  As of right now, though, with Adams not practicing today, his status is still very much up in the air, so we'll just have to wait and see.