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Among the Colts to watch in Week 8 against the Titans is rookie Dayo Odeyingbo.
The Indianapolis Colts (3-4) are entering the midpoint of the 2021 season with a divisional bout on tap against the Tennessee Titans (5-2) in Week 8 at Lucas Oil Stadium.
While the Titans have a two-game lead on the Colts for the division and essentially a three-game lead given that they currently hold the tiebreaker after their Week 3 win, this is a huge matchup for both teams.
Here are five Colts to watch in the Week 8 matchup against the Titans:
A look at the initial injury report for the Colts and Titans in Week 8.
The Indianapolis Colts (3-4) and Tennessee Titans (5-2) returned to practice Wednesday and released their initial injury reports ahead of the Week 8 divisional matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium.
There will be a number of injuries to keep an eye on this week as the Colts look to win their third game in a row. Chiefly among those names to monitor will be wide receiver T.Y. Hilton and right tackle Braden Smith, both of which seemingly have a chance to play after missing Week 7 against the San Francisco 49ers.
Coming off a prime-time game on the west coast, the Colts decided to hold a walkthrough rather than a practice so these are estimates of what a player would have done.
Here is the initial injury report for the Colts in Week 8:
*DNP = Did Not Participate — LP = Limited Participant — FP = Full Participant*
| Player | Injury | Wed. (10/27) | Thur. (10/28) | Fri. (10/29) | Status |
| WR T.Y. Hilton | Quad | DNP | |||
| CB BoPete Keyes | Hamstring | DNP | |||
| CB Xavier Rhodes | Calf | DNP | |||
| RB Nyheim Hines | Ribs | LP | |||
| T Braden Smith | Foot/Thumb | LP | |||
| RB Jonathan Taylor | Ribs | LP | |||
| DE Kemoko Turay | Groin | LP | |||
| CB Rock Ya-Sin | Ankle | LP | |||
| RB Jordan Wilkins | Non-Football Illness | FP |
Here’s a look at the initial injury report for the Titans in Week 8 (will be updated):
*DNP = Did Not Participate — LP = Limited Participant — FP = Full Participant*
| Player | Injury | Wed. (10/27) | Thur. (10/28) | Fri. (10/29) | Status |
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Frank Reich gives injury updates on T.Y. Hilton and Braden Smith.
The Indianapolis Colts were without wide receiver T.Y. Hilton and right tackle Braden Smith in Week 7 but there is hope that they will return for the divisional game against the Tennessee Titans in Week 8.
In speaking to reporters Monday, head coach Frank Reich wouldn’t guarantee they will return. However, he did share some optimism that they could progress toward playing in the divisional rematch.
“Not for Sunday yet, but they both made good progress last week. My understanding – again, you know we have the medical meeting coming up in a second, but I don’t think there’s been any setbacks,” Reich told the media. “So, I thought T.Y. (Hilton) was close last week but didn’t make it. Reading between the lines there, I would be very optimistic that he should make it this week. Braden (Smith), I don’t think was quite as far along as T.Y. was but Braden was making good progress. I’d say I’m optimistic on Braden but probably a little less so than T.Y.”
Hilton returned for the first time in Week 6 from the injured reserve list, leading the offense with four receptions for 80 yards. He then suffered a quad injury in the fourth quarter of the game. He failed to practice at all in Week 7 and was inactive due to the injury.
Smith returned to practice for the first time since initially injuring his foot in Week 1 but wasn’t ready to return to playing in Week 7. He has a chance to play against the Titans but it’s likely more of an outside chance than Hilton.
Getting those two back for this divisional would help tip the scales toward balance, but the injury reports will need to be monitored throughout the week to see if they are healthy enough to play.
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The Colts downgraded T.Y. Hilton to OUT vs. 49ers and elevated two players from the practice squad.
The Indianapolis Colts downgraded wide receiver T.Y. Hilton from questionable to out on the injury report and elevated wide receiver Keke Coutee and safety Josh Jones from the practice squad to the active roster, the team announced Saturday.
Even though Hilton told the media earlier in the week that he was “50-50” to play against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night, head coach Frank Reich said it was unlikely he would go.
The quad injury he suffered in Week 6 against the Houston Texans kept him from practicing all week and with the weather conditions likely to be nasty, the Colts are taking the cautious route as to not worsen the injury.
Coutee will be elevated to give the Colts some depth at wide receiver with Hilton out and Parris Campbell on the injured reserve list with a foot injury. Jones is elevated to give some depth at safety after Julian Blackmon tore his Achilles.
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The Colts ruled out four players ahead of the Week 7 matchup with the 49ers.
The Indianapolis Colts have ruled out four players ahead of the Week 7 matchup with the San Francisco 49ers.
The players that have been ruled out include right tackle Braden Smith (foot), defensive end Kemoko Turay (groin), cornerback Rock Ya-Sin (ankle) and running back Jordan Wilkins (non-football illness).
Frank Reich rules these guys OUT for Sunday night:
-Braden Smith (foot)
-Jordan Wilkins (illness)
-Rock Ya-Sin (ankle)
-Julian Blackmon (Achilles)— Kevin Bowen (@KBowen1070) October 22, 2021
Head coach Frank Reich told the media following practice that wide receiver T.Y. Hilton (quad) is listed as questionable but unlikely to play after failing to log any type of practice this week. He told reporters Thursday that he’s “50-50” to play this week even though it appears he’s more doubtful than questionable.
While Smith was ruled out, there were some positive signs that he’s heading in the right direction. The starting right tackle logged his first practice on Friday since injuring his foot in Week 1. He’s not ready to return yet, but this is at least a positive development.
The Colts will release their final injury report with designations later on Friday, which should give a better idea of the entire injury situation entering the weekend.
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Colts WR T.Y. Hilton said he’s ’50-50′ to play vs. 49ers in Week 7.
The status of Indianapolis Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton for the Sunday night matchup with the San Francisco 49ers is currently up in the air as the weekend quickly approaches.
In speaking to reporters before Thursday’s practice, Hilton said it’s a coin flip on whether he’ll be able to suit up against the 49ers in prime-time. The 31-year-old wideout injured his quad against the Houston Texans in Week 6.
“I’m in a good spot. I still have some stuff to do, so we’ll see,” Hilton said Thursday. “50-50 right now. Still early in the week so we’ll see.”
The Colts just got Hilton to make his season debut in Week 6 after a long stint on the injured reserve list. Hilton suffered a neck injury during the preseason. It wound up being a disc/nerve issue that caused him to lose feeling on the left side of his body. The team got it corrected, but the healing process kept Hilton out for the first five games.
Still, in true Ghost fashion, he returned for his debut against the Texans. Immediately, he made an impact catching all four of his targets for 80 yards and leading the team in receiving.
Entering Friday, Hilton hasn’t logged a practice yet so his status is likely to be determined before the weekend arrives. He could probably play without logging a practice, but the chances of that are unlikely.
Regardless, all eyes will be on Hilton to see if he is able to get back on the field when the injury designations come out.
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Updated injury report for the Colts and 49ers in Week 7.
The Indianapolis Colts (2-4) and San Francisco 49ers (2-3) released their updated injury reports on Thursday for the Week 7 matchup at Levi’s Stadium.
The Colts got some bad news Thursday as safety Julian Blackmon will miss the remainder of the season due to a torn Achilles he suffered in practice on Wednesday. It’s why he popped up on the initial injury report. He’s still on the injury report but expect the team to move him to the injured reserve list soon.
Here’s a look at the updated injury report for the Colts in Week 7:
*DNP = Did Not Participate — LP = Limited Participant — FP = Full Participant*
| Player | Injury | Wed. (10/20) | Thur. (10/21) | Fri. (10/22) | Status |
| WR T.Y. Hilton | Quad | DNP | DNP | ||
| LB Darius Leonard | Ankle/Knee | DNP | LP | ||
| DE Tyquan Lewis | Elbow | DNP | LP | ||
| DE Kwity Paye | Hamstring | DNP | LP | ||
| T Braden Smith | Foot/Thumb | DNP | DNP | ||
| DE Kemoko Turay | Groin | DNP | DNP | ||
| CB Rock Ya-Sin | Ankle | DNP | DNP | ||
| RB Jordan Wilkins | Non-Football Illness | DNP | DNP | ||
| S Julian Blackmon | Achilles | LP | DNP | ||
| S Andrew Sendejo | Concussion | LP | LP | ||
| TE Jack Doyle | Rest | — | DNP | ||
| CB Xavier Rhodes | Ankle | — | LP |
Here’s a look at the updated injury report for the 49ers in Week 7 (will be updated):
*DNP = Did Not Participate — LP = Limited Participant — FP = Full Participant*
| Player | Injury | Wed. (10/20) | Thur. (10/21) | Fri. (10/22) | Status |
| DT Javon Kinlaw | Knee | DNP | |||
| QB Trey Lance | Knee | DNP | |||
| T Trent Williams | Ankle/Elbow | DNP | |||
| QB Jimmy Garoppolo | Calf | LP | |||
| LB Marcell Harris | Thumb | LP | |||
| CB K’Waun Williams | Calf | FP |
The Colts and 49ers will release their final injury reports with designations on Friday so we’ll have a better idea of what to expect over the weekend.
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The Colts restructured WR T.Y. Hilton’s contract, freeing up $2.3 million in salary-cap space.
The Indianapolis Colts restructured the one-year contract for wide receiver T.Y. Hilton, freeing up roughly $2.3 million in salary-cap space, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
With the trade deadline coming up, it makes sense that the Colts would want to free up some space just in case they need to make a move. How they restructured the one-year deal isn’t yet clear.
The #Colts restructured WR TY Hilton’s 1-year contract to create $2.3M in cap room to help them operate, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 21, 2021
The trade deadline of Nov. 2 is rapidly approaching. We know that running back Marlon Mack is on the trading block after both sides mutually agreed to find a new home for the 25-year-old back.
Meanwhile, the Colts could be in the market to add a cornerback given the injuries that have hit the secondary this season. They could also be looking to add picks to their crop of 2022 selections given that they are likely to be without a first-rounder with how things are going.
The next two weeks will be interesting, and restructuring Hilton’s deal will help them make a move if they need to.
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Stock report from the Colts’ 31-3 win over the Texans.
The Indianapolis Colts (2-4) entered this game hungry to show they still have what it takes to dominate bad teams in the NFL. They did just that with a commanding 31-3 win over the Houston Texans (1-5) at Lucas Oil Stadium.
It truly was a dominating performance on all fronts for the Colts. The offense moved the ball at will either with chunk plays through the air or with Jonathan Taylor on the ground in the second half.
After taking a look at the takeaways from the win and the studs and duds from the performance, it’s now time to take stock from the divisional victory.
Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.
| SUNDAY SALUTES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Quarterbacks | Pass-Rush | TD |
| Kirk Cousins | 373 – 16 | 3 |
| Matthew Stafford | 251 – 12 | 4 |
| Jalen Hurts | 115 – 44 | 3 |
| Patrick Mahomes | 397 – 31 | 2 |
| Dak Prescott | 445 – 10 | 2 |
| Running Backs | Yards | TD |
| Jonathan Taylor | 14-145 rush 1-13 catch |
2 |
| Leonard Fournette | 22-81 rush 6-46 catch |
2 |
| Darrell Henderson | 18-94 rush 5-59 catch |
2 |
| Joe Mixon | 18-94 rush 3-27 catch |
1 |
| Darrel Williams | 21-62 rush 3-27 catch |
2 |
| Wide Receivers | Yards | TD |
| Cooper Kupp | 9-130 | 2 |
| CeeDee Lamb | 9-149 | 1 |
| Adam Thielen | 11-126 | 1 |
| Jaylen Waddle | 10-70 | 2 |
| D. Peoples-Jones | 4-101 | 2 |
| Tight Ends | Yards | TD |
| Noah Fant | 9-97 | 1 |
| Mike Gesicki | 8-115 | 0 |
| Travis Kelce | 8-99 | 0 |
| Mark Andrews | 5-68 | 1 |
| O.J. Howard | 6-49 | 1 |
| Placekickers | XP | FG |
| Matt Prater | 4 | 3 |
| Greg Zuerlein | 2 | 3 |
| Matthew Wright | 2 | 3 |
| Chris Boswell | 2 | 3 |
| Daniel Carlson | 4 | 2 |
| Defense | Sack – TO | TD |
| Colts | 2 – 3 | 0 |
| Raiders | 5 – 4 | 0 |
| Rams | 4 – 4 | 0 |
| Cowboys | 2 – 2 | 1 |
| Cardinals | 5 – 3 | 0 |
QB Baker Mayfield – Shoulder
QB Dak Prescott – Calf
RB Latavius Murray – Ankle
RB Kareem Hunt – Calf
RB Antonio Gibson – Shin
WR Odell Beckham – Shoulder
WR Kadarius Toney – Ankle
WR C.J. Board – Arm
WR Parris Campbell – Foot
WR T.Y. Hilton – Quad
WR Terrace Marshall – Concussion
WR Chris Conley – Neck
Chasing Ambulances
QB Baker Mayfield (CLE) – Said that he dislocated the shoulder on his non-throwing arm, and it slipped out during a non-contact play. Mayfield says he will play through the injury, and the Browns have lost most of their receivers anyway.
QB Dak Prescott (DAL) – Injured his calf at the end of the win over the Patriots. The Cowboys are on bye, so he’ll have two weeks to heal up.
RB Latavius Murray (BAL) – Injured his ankle and had to limp off the field. Head coach John Harbaugh said he did not think it was “overly serious,” but more information should be known at least by Wednesday at the latest. The Ravens already have a committee backfield, so missing Murray won’t make Devonta Freeman, Le’Veon Bell, or Ty ‘Son Williams become more relevant. Williams might be active for game day if Murray was to miss any time.
RB Kareem Hunt (CLE) – The Browns were already without Nick Chubb (calf), and then Hunt was carted off the field with a calf injury. The severity will be determined on Monday but the problem is that the Browns play on Thursday night. There may not be time for Chubb or Hunt to be healthy enough to play. D’Ernest Johnson would likely be the primary rusher, despite only three runs on the year. Demetric Felton could see an uptick from his standard two receptions each week. The Browns face the visiting Broncos, who feature one of the best rushing defenses, so it may not matter much in any case.
RB Antonio Gibson (WAS) – He was already questionable with a lingering shin injury, but Gibson re-aggravated it after ten carries. If he misses Week 7 at the Packers, or even if he continues to be limited, J.D. McKissic will handle the backfield needs. He already ran eight times for 45 yards against the Chiefs and caught a season-high eight passes for 65 yards. He’s already a fantasy option in reception point leagues but rises in value if Gibson is not healthy this week.
WR Odell Beckham (CLE) – Injured his shoulder during a catch and left the field. He jogged to the locker room to be further evaluated. Beckham returned later in the second half, so the injury is not considered serious, but Beckham has a history of shoulder issues.
WR Kadarius Toney (NYG) – After blowing up in Week 5, the rookie rolled his right ankle in the first quarter and did not return. This was the same ankle that he tweaked the previous game and was questionable to play the Rams. He passed a pregame medical check but re-aggravated the injury.
WR T.Y. Hilton (IND) – He led the Colts with four catches for 80 yards in his 2021 debut but went down with a quad injury and then walked off on his own. Hilton said he did not believe it was serious, so pending unexpected bad news, Hilton should be available to play at the 49ers this week. It is encouraging that he stepped in and immediately assumed the No. 1 receiver role.
QB Tua Tagovailoa (MIA) – Returned from injured reserve, and his broken ribs appeared to be healed when he ran for 22 yards on three rushes. He also threw for 329 yards and two scores to Jaylen Waddle. What was just as good as seeing him immediately renew his connection with Waddle was that he also threw for 115 yards and eight catches to Mike Gesicki, And it was with Will Fuller and Davante Parker out.
WR Jamal Agnew (JAC) – When DJ Chark was lost for the year, it was assumed that Laviska Shenault would benefit most. For the last two games, Shenault caught seven passes while Agnew totaled 11 receptions. Shenault still fields more targets, but Agnew’s gaining more value the last two weeks.
WR Rashod Bateman (BAL) – Had his first NFL game and while he ended with only 35 yards on four catches, what is notable is that his six targets tied with Mark Andrews for the team-high. Lamar Jackson only threw 27 passes, so the rookie fielded better than one in every five passes. And the Ravens had limited reasons to pass in the blowout win over the Chargers. This week hosting the Bengals will be a critical divisional matchup, and Bateman is quickly integrating into the offense.
RB Chuba Hubbard (CAR) – Christian McCaffrey landed on injured reserve for at least three weeks, but the Panthers appear to be in good hands with the rookie Hubbard. He ran for 61 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries versus the Vikings and added one catch for four yards. Hubbard handled all but one carry for the backfield. The next couple of matchups are at the Falcons and Giants. Hubbard caught as many as five passes in a game, and that role should help support his fantasy value until McCaffrey returns.
RB Khalil Herbert (CHI) – The former third-string back got the start in Week 6 and ran for 97 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. He added two receptions for 15 yards and handled every backfield touch.
RB Chris Evans (CIN) – Samaje Perine was out on the COVID-19 list, and that allowed the sixth-round rookie out of Michigan to increase his playing time in the win over the Lions. Joe Mixon had a big day in Detroit, but Evans (4-18) saw his first work as a rusher, and added three catches for 49 yards and his first NFL touchdown. He looked good enough that he could start to see more use and muddle the backup role behind Mixon.
QB Jared Goff (DET) – The Lions now have the added pressure of being the only winless team. And head coach Dan Campbell was not pleased with his starting quarterback Jared Goff despite couching his postgame press conference in mostly “whole team” terms. He said that Goff needs to step it up after he posted just 202 yards and one interception on the blowout loss to the visiting Bengals. He’s unlikely to be benched since David Blough isn’t likely the answer either. And he’s been given one of the youngest, most mediocre sets of wide receivers. The Lions play at the Rams this week, and the losing streak sounds like the Lions are reaching the point of “we gotta do something different because this isn’t working.”
QB Matt Stafford (LAR) – Matt Stafford just threw four touchdowns at the Giants, and that’s the second time in four games he’s accomplished it. He’s hitting a very sweet spot in the schedule with his next games going against the Lions, Texans, and Titans. He’s thrown for two touchdowns to Cooper Kupp in three of the last five weeks.
WR Sterling Shepard / Kadarius Toney (NYG) – The rookie Toney only caught three passes but left in the first quarter with a re-aggravated ankle injury. But Sterling Shepard returned from his hamstring injury and caught a team-high ten passes for 76 yards. In the three full games that he played, he’s averaged nine catches for 93 yards.
RB Darrel Williams (KC) – Clyde Edwards-Helaire injured his MCL and landed on injured reserve for at least another two weeks. So far, the offense is in capable hands with Darrel Williams. He ran for 62 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries at Washington and added three catches for 27 yards. Jerick McKinnon was limited to only four touches. The Chiefs play the Titans and Giants next, so Williams will remain a fantasy option while Edwards-Helaire is out. The coaches trust Williams.
WR Donovan Peoples-Jones (CLE) – The Browns keep losing wide receivers with Jarvis Landry out again in Week 6 and Odell Beckham missing the first two games and then getting nicked up the last few weeks. Peoples-Jones stepped up in Week 5 with five catches for 70 yards at the Chargers and then led the Browns with four receptions for 101 yards and two scores in the loss to the Cardinals on Sunday. His second score was a 57-yard Hail Mary touchdown that ended the first half, so don’t be too impressed with his yardage total. Jarvis Landry was activated from injured reserve and should return for Week 7 which would reduce the workload for Peoples-Jones.
RB Rhamondre Stevenson / Brandon Bolden (NE) – When James White was lost for the season, it initially appeared that Brandon Bolden was taking his place when he totaled ten catches over Weeks 4 and 5. But against the Cowboys, Bolden only ran once for a one-yard loss and caught a three-yard pass. Rhamondre Stevenson ran five times for 23 yards and a touchdown, plus caught three passes for 39 yards. And that was in a very close game where every play mattered. The Jets show up this weekend and bring one of the worst defenses against running backs, so maybe starting Stevenson is safe? Damien Harris is the clear primary back and ran 18 times for 101 yards and a score against the Cowboys, but Stevenson appears to be working his way into being the No. 2 running back.
RB Alex Collins (SEA) – Chris Carson landed on injured reserve a few days ago, so he’ll miss the next two home games against the Saints and Jaguars. But Alex Collins replaced him this week and ran for 101 yards and one touchdown on 20 carries at the Steelers against the No. 5 defense against running backs. The Seahawks rarely use their running backs as receivers, and DeeJay Dallas takes whatever minor third-down duty there is. But Collins looked sharp and now has two home games before their Week 9 bye.
QB Geno Smith (SEA) – Sunday night was the first time in a decade that the Seahawks started someone different than Russell Wilson. Smith debuted in a road game at the Steelers and only passed for 209 yards and one score. And with a very costly fumble that lost the game and he was sacked five times. These next two home games against the Saints and Jaguars should get Smith much-needed time with his receivers, but he only completed 23-of-32 passes and surprisingly had no role as a rusher. Downgrades to the receiver’s prospects are realistic. Tyler Lockett caught just two passes for 35 yards, and DK Metcalf settled for just 58 yards on six receptions.
Matthew Wright – The undrafted kicker filled in for the Steelers for three games last season and then was signed by the Jaguars after they lost Josh Lambo a few weeks back. His first two starts saw him with four-of-five field extra-point attempts, and he missed his only field goal attempt.J.D. McKissic
Then he went to London.
He made a 40-yarder in the second quarter.
He made a 54-yarder with 3:40 left to play that tied the score.
He made a 53-yarder as time expired to beat the Dolphins and end the 20-game losing streak.
Salute!
| Comedy | Yards | TDs | Tragedy | Yards | TDs | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QB | Teddy Bridgewater | 343 | 3 | QB | Justin Herbert | 207 | 1 |
| RB | Kenyan Drake | 73 | 2 | RB | Antonio Gibson | 44 | 0 |
| RB | Rhamondre Stevenson | 62 | 1 | RB | Austin Ekeler | 55 | 0 |
| WR | D. Peoples-Jones | 101 | 2 | WR | Mike Evans | 27 | 0 |
| WR | K.J. Osborn | 78 | 1 | WR | Mike Williams | 27 | 0 |
| WR | Marvin Jones | 100 | 1 | WR | Terry McLaurin | 28 | 0 |
| TE | Ricky Seals-Jones | 58 | 1 | TE | Evan Engram | 24 | 0 |
| PK | Matthew Wright | 2 XP 3 FG | PK | Tristan Vizcaino | nada | ||
| Huddle Fantasy Points = 139 | Huddle Fantasy Points = 31 | ||||||
Now get back to work…
