Injury Report: Hilton and Doyle out vs Jets; S Matthias Farley to IR

The Colts will face the New York Jets on the road and they’ll play short handed again this week. After the week’s final practice, Frank Reich ruled out DTs Denico Autry, S Clayton Geathers, WR T.Y. Hilton, TE Jack Doyle, and OT Denzelle Good for Sunday’s game.

Additionally, they’ll send S Matthias Farley to IR and promote TE Mo Alie-Cox from the practice squad to the active roster.

This is a tough list of guys to be missing, but there are a couple of bright spots. It looks as though we’ll see LT Anthony Castonzo’s season debut and a return of RB Marlon Mack. The absence of these two guys has had a significant impact on how the Colts could operate on offense, and has definitely impacted the effectiveness of the running game. With the offensive line beaten up in other places, this return is a big deal.

There are also a fair number of players who are hopeful but not guaranteed to play out of the slew of guys who have made appearances on the injury report this week. C Ryan Kelly is also a guy Reich talked about ask one who would hopefully be good to start Sunday, but is no sure thing. Also, DT Margus Hunt has not been ruled out, but the medical staff will have to determine if he is eligible to play.

Eric Ebron is another name to watch as far as guys who have been banged up but could possibly still play. Without both Doyle and Hilton, having Ebron available as a red zone weapon would be a big lift to an offense that is largely without any teeth. If he is able to go it will help Andrew Luck out a lot. The elevation of Mo Alie-Cox seems like a bad sign for Ebron’s availability.

The good news for the Colts is that the Jets will enter this contest very likely missing their top two cornerbacks in Buster Skrine and Trumaine Johnson, and running back Isaiah Crowell who really racked up the yards last week is questionable.

The Colts need to find a way to scrape out a win on the road and help get their season back under control. If they can get some of these wins now, when they begin getting their playmakers back they could still be hanging around close enough to make a run in the division. That starts with getting a win Sunday.