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A running list of Saturday cuts around the AFC South so far, per reports from people in the know…

Houston

• LB Xavier Adibi
• WR Dorin Dickerson
• DE Damione Lewis
• TE Anthony Hill

Indianapolis

• DT Tommie Harris
• DT Ricardo Matthews
• TE Michael Matthews
• WR Taj Smith
• DE John Chick
• QB Dan Orlovsky
• LB Kerry Neal
• G Kyle DeVan
• RB Javarris James
• P Travis Baltz

Jacksonville

• OT Daniel Baldridge
• DE Larry Hart
• DL Andrew Lewis
• CB Terrence Wheatley
• CB Jalil Johnson
• LB Mike Lockley

Tennessee

• WR Justin Gage
• DE Jacob Ford
• S Vincent Fuller
• S Robert Johnson
• OT Adam Terry

ANDERSON, Ind. -- It’s trendy to call the Colts aging and to view the Texans and even the Jaguars as up-and-comers in the AFC South.

But if Indianapolis is healthy, it’s awfully risky to be ahead of the curve regarding its demise.

This is a team that lost a ton of talent to injury last season and still won the division at 10-6. It’s added some nice pieces on defense through bargain-basement free-agency. It drafted two offensive tackles who should be pillars, and also selected a short-yardage back.

There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about a big rebound year, and most teams aren’t even talking rebound when it comes to following a division title.

“I think it’s really the same team,” middle linebacker Gary Brackett said.

The same team is a major threat to win the division and compete for home-field advantage in the playoffs. Should it break through for the third Super Bowl appearance of the Peyton Manning era, a huge prize awaits: The game will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium.

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. Manning’s health.

He spoke after signing his contract and has been seen around the team a couple of times during training camp at Anderson University. But like in 2008 following offseason knee surgeries, he’s not practicing.

This time it’s a result of neck surgery in May. It’s the second year in a row Manning had a neck procedure after the season. But he and the team have expressed confidence that all he needs is time and rehabilitation. It’s unlikely that a five-year, $90 million contract would have gotten done if the medical staff and management had any doubts.

While the Colts move forward without Manning, his absence also puts them in limbo. No matter how strongly they spin Curtis Painter’s performance, the defense isn’t being pushed in practice the way it would be if Manning was running the other side.

And no matter how precise the routes, how good the blocking or how well-timed the play, the offense will still need to sync it all up with the star quarterback once he returns.

That knee in 2008 limited him early, when the team struggled out of the gate. Coming back from a neck injury, Manning is less likely to have any sort of mechanical issues or physical limitations that affect his passing. That’s one case for expecting a better start after so much missed time.

The timetable for his return is unknown. You know the drill: They say he’s progressing well, that they are optimistic, etc., and no one outside a very tight circle has any real idea when he will re-emerge. He was spotted once throwing with what a witness called “decent velocity.” Hey, encouraging news is encouraging news.

2. Is the secondary deep enough?

Last season, the Colts were stretched virtually everywhere. Aaron Francisco wasn’t on the team for opening day, ranking as the fourth or fifth option at strong safety, and he played a good share of the season as the starter.

Behind free safety Antoine Bethea and re-signed and healthy strong safety Melvin Bullitt, there are unproven options including Al Afalava, Joe Lefeged, Mike Newton, David Caldwell and Chip Vaughn.

And after the top three corners -- Jerraud Powers, Justin Tryon and Jacob Lacey -- there also isn’t proven depth.

“At the safety position, I’m confident that we’re going to get two guys that will emerge there,” Colts vice chairman Bill Polian said. “We see enough signs to know that there is quality in that group.

“I also think there is some quality in the backup corners. Kevin Thomas is one of them. There are some interesting guys, and they’ll play themselves on or off the roster based on the preseason. But based on what I’ve seen thus far, I’d say we’ve got a good group and one or two guys will emerge.”

They will all benefit, of course, from a better pass rush. And if Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis are better supplemented by Jerry Hughes and Jamaal Anderson on the edges and Tommie Harris provides a solid nickel push in the middle, they could have one.

3. Will the passing game have enough consistent weapons?

The ability of the 2010 Colts to get production from the likes of tight end Jacob Tamme and receiver Blair White was remarkable.

But if they can’t count on often-injured receiver Anthony Gonzalez or Austin Collie, who was shut down last season after concussion issues, it will be harder to make things go again.

Reggie Wayne is in fantastic shape and working hard, and will be a key target for Manning as always. Dallas Clark is back from a wrist injury. If the Colts are calling plays for those two and Pierre Garcon, Collie and Gonzalez, they can be potent. If the group shrinks, the effort is more exhausting.

Manning averaged 6.92 yards per attempt in 2010. That’s the lowest mark in his career outside of his rookie season (6.5). The Colts need to find more big plays and move the ball with a little less effort to be the kind of team they want to be.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

If the Colts get a significant contribution out of Anderson, Harris or linebacker Ernie Sims, it’ll be a win. All three signed cost-effective one-year deals that amount to low-risk, high-reward scenarios. Polian said in a normal year, the market wouldn’t have given the team an opportunity to sign players like these, veterans who are all ideally suited for Indy’s defense. If they get something from two of them, it will make for a home run. Three-for-three amounts to a grand slam. Harris looks very good so far, while Sims is recovering from an appendectomy.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

Polian was singing Philip Wheeler’s praises and saying that while the team loves starting strongside linebacker Pat Angerer, it loves Wheeler too. But he failed to hold the job last season and should be able to win and hold a starting job by now. Brody Eldridge gets a mention, too. He had knee surgery after last season, and a setback means he hasn’t seen the practice field yet. They need him to be part of the run game.

OBSERVATION DECK

• Delone Carter is coming into a perfect situation as a rookie. He’s unlike any of the Colts' other running backs and should get chances in short yardage and goal-line situations. If Javarris James ran for six touchdowns last season, Carter could run for 12 this fall. The Colts can continue to praise Donald Brown, but with Joseph Addai back and Carter in the fold, when does Brown get on the field?
• It was a surprise to find Lacey as the No. 2 cornerback at the start of camp. He was better as a rookie than in his second season. And he can be an effective piece of the secondary. But I’d bet on Tryon passing him before opening day.
• After one long and hot afternoon practice session, two players stuck around to catch machine-thrown balls: Wayne and Bethea. Those are some solid veterans and the kind of guys any team would like to have leading the way.
• Manning didn’t react well to TV crews that saw a recent throwing and running session. My understanding is that the Earth is still spinning, however. I understand being private, but everything and everyone cannot always be controlled. Did I miss the catastrophic outcome?
• The buzz is good on Hughes, and with him and Anderson in the mix, the Colts may pace Freeney and Mathis better. That could make for fresher stars in December and January.
• They won’t talk until after the season, but as of now I’d expect the Colts to try to keep both Wayne and Mathis with new contracts.
• Jacques McClendon or Joe Reitz could be an upgrade over Kyle DeVan at left guard. The big question on the line to me -- presuming Anthony Castonzo takes over left tackle reasonably quickly -- is right guard. Mike Pollak has had sufficient opportunity, and the team can aspire to be better there. Couldn’t they be better with Ben Ijalana there until he’s ready to displace Ryan Diem at right tackle?
• 'Tis the season for Garcon to prove he's a consistently reliable threat. He had too many drops and too many lapses last season. He needs to be more than fast. He spent more time with Manning this offseason, before the neck surgery, than he did last offseason.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Thoughts on the Colts' 30-28 win over the Titans at LP Field.

What it means: The Colts are 7-6 and will win the division if they win their final three games. The Titans are 5-8, lost their sixth in a row and can finish .500 at best.

What I liked: While Peyton Manning still made some poor throws, none of them were killer and none of them were intercepted. Against a bad team, he got back to form with 319 yards and two touchdown passes. The Colts showed some determination to run despite missing their two best backs. Javarris James scored on a 1-yard run and converted a fourth-and-4 with an 11-yard run.

Streak-buster: After 14 quarters without an offensive touchdown, the Titans got a 1-yard scoring run from Chris Johnson at the end of the second quarter and a 7-yard catch-and-lunge for a score by Craig Stevens on the opening possession of the third quarter. They went crazy with a couple Bo Scaife TD catches in the fourth.

Injury concern: Colts left tackle Charlie Johnson suffered a shoulder injury and didn’t return to action, with undrafted rookie Jeff Linkenbach taking over.

Hot topic: The Titans showed a lot more life than they did last Sunday in a loss to Jacksonville, but that won’t quiet the chatter in Nashville about Jeff Fisher's future with the franchise.

What’s next: The Colts host the Jaguars in a crucial division rematch. Tennessee hosts Houston, which will be on short rest following a Monday night game against Baltimore.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Halftime thoughts from LP Field where it’s 21-7 Colts over Titans.

• Donald Brown is not the guy to solve the rushing problems for Indianapolis. Spins in the backfield provide time for defenders to tackle him in the backfield. That’s especially ineffective when it’s losing yards inside the 5-yard line. Javarris James is simple better in the red zone.
• My understanding of the Titans use of Randy Moss gets worse and worse. He played minimally in that half, and I don’t think he and Kenny Britt were on the field together for a snap. Meanwhile, a drop for Nate Washington and a good bit of action for Justin Gage.
• Kerry Collins can’t get nearly enough on the ball if he can’t step into it and the pocket rarely holds up. There are quarterbacks in the league who can make quality throws as they retreat. He’s not one of them.
• Rookie linebackers Pat Angerer and Kavell Conner were in the starting lineup, but the Colts are mixing and matching at linebacker beyond Gary Brackett. Tyjuan Hagler has played a lot. Philip Wheeler’s been out there some too.
• Two Tennessee giveaways led to two Colts touchdowns -- Dwight Freeney stripped Britt for one, Brett Kern couldn’t pull in a high snap from Ken Amato for a punt and Taj Smith recovered it for the other.
• Ryan Diem, two false starts. Not good. Manning, no picks, good. Still a couple more bad throws than you’d expect -- one where he missed an open Reggie Wayne on a scramble, one where he had James at the goal line.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Donald Brown starts at running back for the Colts tonight with Joseph Addai and Mike Hart both out, though we’re sure to see some Javarris James and maybe Dominic Rhodes in the first game of his third stint with the franchise.

The Colts have three other subs, who are not surprises: Kavell Conner starts for Clint Session at weakside linebacker, Jacob Lacey starts at left corner for Kelvin Hayden and Justin Tryon starts at left corner for Jerraud Powers, who went on IR this week.

For the Titans Dave Ball (concussion/ hip) is inactive and will be replaced at right end by Jacob Ford.

The whole list of inactives:

Titans: QB Rusty Smith, S Robert Johnson, T Troy Kropog, CB Ryan Mouton, LB David Thornton, DT Sen’Derrick Marks.

Colts: WR Austin Collie, CB Kelvin Hayden, RB Joseph Addai, RB Mike Hart, LB Clint Session, OG Jacques McClendon, DT Ricardo Mathews.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Barring a scoreless overtime, the Colts' appearance at LP Field guarantees that one AFC South team will end a losing streak Thursday night.

As they brace for the first of two head-to-head matchups in the final month of the season, the Colts (6-6) and Titans (5-7) have combined to lose eight straight.

Somebody gets to leave the stadium tonight feeling a lot better. Here are five questions to consider before we see who that is.

1. Will Peyton Manning break out of his funk? He has 11 interceptions in his past three games. But the Titans have only three interceptions during their five consecutive losses. Look for corner Cortland Finnegan to draw the difficult Reggie Wayne assignment, but to have plenty of help as the Titans show themselves more willing to take chances with Pierre Garcon, Jacob Tamme and especially Blair White.

Rookie Alterraun Verner is the second starting corner and will face Manning for the first time, and second-year man Jason McCourty will work in the nickel. McCourty started last season in a loss to the Colts when the Titans gave up 309 passing yards and three passing touchdowns to Manning with only one pick.

Tennessee has been getting crushed in time of possession -- it hasn’t held the ball for 21 minutes in its past two losses. Manning will be content to take what’s given and string together long drives if he can.

2. Who’s playing in the Colts' secondary? The Colts' starting cornerbacks are out -- Jerraud Powers is finished for the season after surgery to repair a broken forearm and Kelvin Hayden is not recovered from a neck injury. That means Jacob Lacey and Justin Tryon are in line to work as the top two corners with rookie Cornelius Brown as the nickel.

The Titans have hardly been slinging it. They haven’t scored an offensive touchdown since Nov. 21. But Kerry Collins will have receiver Kenny Britt back after a four-game layoff with a hamstring injury and surely Tennessee will finally throw a jump ball to Randy Moss, right?

A drop-off at corner can mean extra strain on safeties Antoine Bethea and Aaron Francisco. Unless, of course, defensive ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis are regularly able to hurry Collins and shorten the clock for all the guys in coverage.

3. How many catches will Tamme have? While the tight end has been productive, he’s not Dallas Clark. But the Titans' defense has given up significant yardage to tight ends far less talented than Clark this season.

I don’t know that anything has changed for the Titans' linebackers, who are most responsible for those issues, and I look for the Colts to be primed to attack the soft underbelly of the Tennessee defense until Stephen Tulloch or Will Witherspoon or Gerald McRath prove things are any different.

Heck, watch the banged-up Brody Eldridge make a couple of key catches.

4. How much will Indy even try to run it? The Colts would like to show some semblance of balance and some effective runs would help keep the play-action believable -- though everyone seems to bite on it even when they can’t run. It will be interesting to see how coach Jim Caldwell and offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen deploy Donald Brown, Javarris James and Dominic Rhodes.

“They won’t run on us if we play Titans’ defense, to tell you the truth,” defensive tackle Jovan Haye said. “If we have somewhat of a repeat performance from Sunday, then they will. They utilize it in their offense, but they’re not a big run team. If we play like we did [surrendering 258 rushing yards in the loss to Jacksonville], they’ll run the ball.”

5. Can Chris Johnson get something going? He wants more carries and the Titans are desperate to get him going to help elongate drives, keep the defense off the field and alter the time of possession trend. But last year the Colts didn’t allow him a carry longer than 11 yards in two games while holding him to a 4.1-yard average.

Titans fullback Ahmard Hall said tackle Fili Moala, in his first year starting, and rookie linebacker Pat Angerer have been very effective run-stopping pieces on top of what the Colts had previously.

The Titans need to show a willingness to throw deep to Britt and Moss to keep the Colts honest and buy a bit of extra space and time for Johnson.

“He is an outstanding back with outstanding numbers,” Caldwell said. “I think what happens just like anything else, people get spoiled. He is a talented guy and I think he has been performing well. We have to get ready to handle him because he is a heck of a back.”

The Colts clearly are not planning on Joseph Addai returning to the lineup and have enough issue with injuries to Mike Hart and Donald Brown that they’ve dug into the past for a replacement.

Here’s the news release they just sent out:

The Indianapolis Colts have signed free agent running back Dominic Rhodes and placed defensive back Jerraud Powers on injured reserve with an arm injury, the club announced Tuesday. Rhodes spent seven seasons with the Colts from 2001-06 and 2008 after originally signing as a free agent out of Midwestern State. He spent 2007 with Oakland and this past season with the UFL’s Florida Tuskers.

Powers, a second-year veteran, started 10 games in 2010 and had 53 tackles, two interceptions and a team-best nine passes defensed.

In eight NFL seasons, Rhodes has totaled 777 carries for 3,114 yards and 26 touchdowns and 146 receptions for 1,021 yards and four touchdowns. His Colts career totals include 702 rushes for 2,812 yards and 25 touchdowns, including five 100-plus-yard games. During the Colts’ Super Bowl title run following the 2006 season, Rhodes rushed 62 times for 306 yards and one touchdown, including 21 carries for 113 yards and a touchdown in the team’s Super Bowl XLI victory.

We wrote about Powers earlier here and here.

They wouldn’t be signing Rhodes if he wasn’t fit. I’d expect the Colts think they can get more out of him outside of the red zone than they can from Javarris James. But Rhodes may be strictly insurance. There is no telling what their plan will be and they will still be figuring it out.

It would be great for them if they could find some semblance of a running game as the Titans are beat up up front and clearly susceptible to it.

Thoughts on the Cowboys’ win over the Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.

What it means: The Colts are at 6-6, in second place in the AFC South, a game plus a tie-breaker behind 7-5 Jacksonville.

What I didn’t like: Four picks by Peyton Manning, two were returned for touchdowns, two turned into field goals. With Dallas scoring 20 points off turnovers, the thinned out Colts simply couldn’t overcome things without a takeaway of their own. Tashard Choice had 100 yards rushing for a career day. The Cowboys had a 217-40 advantage in rushing yards and had eight third down conversions in 15 chances.

What I liked: An awful lot of fight to pull even after trailing 17-0 at the start and by 13 entering the fourth quarter. A ridiculous, 14-catch, 200-yards, one-touchdown day from Reggie Wayne. Two rushing touchdowns from Javarris James. A blocked punt and a resulting touchdown from Taj Smith.

Major gaffe: A leverage penalty against Eric Foster on a late Dallas field-goal attempt in regulation gave the Cowboys a first down and allowed them to ultimately score a go-ahead touchdown and 2-point conversion. The Colts offense bailed Foster out with a giant touchdown drive to force overtime. But they could have been in position to win it.

What’s next: The Colts have a quick turnaround and a Thursday night game in Nashville against the Titans in an AFC South matchup.

Working with the unfamiliar people who’ve replaced guys like Dallas Clark and Anthony Gonzalez and Joseph Addai this season, Peyton Manning's put school in session.

Thursday afternoons have been prime time for extra work.

Asked Wednesday about trusting Jacob Tamme, Manning gave an answer that went beyond just the tight end.

“I think you have to trust him,” Manning told the Indianapolis media. “There is no time to get out there and say, ‘Boy, I can’t make this play because I’m not sure.’ You have to go out there and go play. That’s why practice reps, walk-throughs and meetings, we do a little extra meeting together with some of these young guys, we have a little school after Thursday’s practice…I’m at least 14 years older than everybody in the room, I think.

“It may not be 14, but I feel really old. Javarris James, Blair White, Brandon James and Tamme and (Austin) Collie, it’s a little Colts school after practice, but it’s fun. We talk about kind of the basic fundamental things which you have to do. You can’t take those things for granted with some of these new guys that just haven’t been playing.”

It’s not 14, of course.

It’s nine.

Manning is 34, while Collie and Tamme are 25, White and Javarris James are 23 and Brandon James is 22.

The way the season has unfolded has made it more of a grind, Manning said, but that grind is worth it when a guy like Brandon James is able to step in and make a few third-down catches. Manning said he’s had to be more patient this season, which has also wound up being rewarding.

“Every week there is something new,” he said. “You do have to be patient with that and understand that there is going to be some adjustments and some of what we call storms that you have to sort of work through. If you can work through, at the same time getting a win, and realize that we are making some improvement in certain areas, then that is a good thing.”

Sunday in New England, the pace of grinding and patience may well be accelerated.

Houston Texans

A Chargers rally left the Texans at 4-4, says John McClain.

Jerome Solomon rips Gary Kubiak's too-quick quarterback sneak call on a giant fourth down.

The offense wasted too many chances, says Dale Robertson.

Kareem Jackson got torched by Seyi Ajirotutu, says Jeffrey Martin.

Kubiak was confused by a crucial intentional grounding call, say the Chronicle’s crew.

It was a loss filled with familiar storylines, says Richard Justice.

The report card from John McClain.

Same old Texans, says Lance Zierlein.

Alan Burge takes a shot at what Bob McNair is thinking.

Indianapolis Colts

Michael Vick and the Eagles snapped the Colts’ three-game winning streak, says Phil Richards.

The Colts had too few players and too few answers, says Bob Kravitz.

A scary hit on Austin Collie brought the injury debate to the forefront again, says Mike Chappell.

Donald Brown and Javarris James filled in OK for Joseph Addai and Mike Hart but it wasn’t enough, says Chappell.

Michael Vick makes the Eagles a lot better, says Clark Judge.

Vick’s dual-threat work outdid Peyton Manning, says Thomas George.

Vick’s star is ascending, says Clifton Brown.

It was remarkable that the Colts were even in it at the end, says John Oehser.

Vick and his laser spirals outplayed Manning, says Nate Dunlevy.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Marcedes Lewis had a giant first half of the season, says Vito Stellino.

Will the Jaguars be better than they have been after the bye, asks Jonathan Loesche.

Tennessee Titans

Randy Moss arrived in Nashville, says Jim Wyatt.

Even with Moss, the rest of the Titans' road is tough, says John Glennon.

A midseason report card from David Boclair.

A midseason report card from Terry McCormick.

PHILADELPHIA -- Austin Collie was wheeled off the field, eyes open, but apparently motionless after absorbing a tough hit late in the second quarter of the Colts-Eagles game.

The combo hit on him came from strong safety Quintin Mikell and cornerback Kurt Coleman and was called an incomplete pass.

But it appeared that Collie completed the catch and was protecting the ball as he was hit from the right by Mikell, who was called for unnecessary roughness on a defenseless receiver.

Mikell's hit jolted Collie into Coleman, coming from the left, and their helmets collided.

It was a scary scene as medical personnel and coaches surrounded Collie. Many somber teammates watched from a few yards away on the field on a knee. Bill Polian left his seat in the press box, presumably to go check on things. The team said Collie suffered a concussion but was alert, sitting up in the locker room and had motion.

I thought Collie took a big hit to the head a few plays earlier, too.

Peyton Manning ran to Collie as he was being rolled off the field, orange tape or bands affixing him to a backboard, to say something before returning to action.

Manning then connected on a 33-yard pass to Collie’s replacement, Blair White, setting up Javarris James’ short scoring run.

The Colts got the ball back and managed a 37-yard Adam Vinatieri field goal with three seconds left.

Thoroughly outplayed, they’re up 17-16 at the half.

We’ll update you on Twitter and in our Countdown Live chat when we hear anything more on Collie.

» NFC High Energy: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

A look at a player who gave his team a significant boost in Week 8.

Sure, we hit on Mike Hart in this piece off the Colts' 30-17 win over Houston.

But he gets a second moment here for his fine work as Joseph Addai's primary fill-in. While Houston's Arian Foster averaged 6.8 yards a carry, Hart was even better with a 7.0 average on his 12 runs. He might have gotten over 100 yards had an ankle injury not knocked him out of the game and he also had three catches for 19 yards.

Going into the game without Addai, one big concern was how Hart and Donald Brown would handle the running back pass-protection duties.

Hart said they fared reasonably well in that department.

“I think we did pretty well. I know for a fact I made one mistake,” he said. “Peyton [Manning] threw hot, I'm definitely going to get yelled at for that [Tuesday]. Besides that, Javarris [James] did a great job. Donald did a great job. I picked up the other blitzes beside one -- three maybe. The only one that matters is the one I missed.”

While he may take heat for that, he'll also get a pat on the back for a fine fill-in effort. An MRI on the ankle will help determine if he'll need to be filled in for next.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 8:

Blitz pick up: If RB Joseph Addai (shoulder) is out for the Colts against the Texans, Indy loses a big piece of its pass protection. Addai is superb at pickups. Donald Brown, also hurt, is not nearly as good. And Mike Hart and Javarris James have not played enough for us to know. It might be a spot for Houston to try to attack, but can the Texans afford to blitz much considering their coverage issues and Peyton Manning’s tendency to find the open guy?

Yes, they’re the Chargers: The Titans spent the week saying how this Chargers team is not the same one they have lost seven straight to, including a 42-17 pounding in a game the Titans needed to stay in playoff contention on Christmas last season. But they are enough of the same team, and San Diego absolutely has Tennessee’s number. The talented Chargers have lost three in a row, seem overdue and match up well.

Filling multiple roles: The absence of Pat McAfee, the punter who’s suspended for the game, goes beyond him being replaced for a game by Jeremy Kapinos. McAfee is also the kickoff man, and Adam Vinatieri won’t hit them as deep. McAfee is the holder too, so Kapinos or Jacob Tamme or Curtis Painter will replace him there. One bad play by a replacement can really shine the spotlight on his absence, and the alleged drunken canal swim that created the suspension scenario.

Talent gap: The Cowboys are largely regarded as a collection of talented players that has been unable to play well together as a team and thus find themselves at 1-5. They certainly view themselves as more talented than the rebuilding Jaguars, who are struggling but have a 3-4 record that the Cowboys would love to call their own. If Aaron Kampman and the young defensive linemen he’s working with can rattle Jon Kitna, Dallas could sink even further.

Concentrating on their jobs: When Arian Foster ran wild against the Colts on opening weekend, Indianapolis defenders got caught out of their lanes. There was a good deal of over-pursuit and a general lack of discipline. Both teams are coming off a bye. The Colts surely spent time discussing those problems and working on them. The Colts' defense has the people to play much better than it has so far. I suspect the Texans will have to balance things out offensively this time around, something Matt Schaub is fully capable of helping them do.

Our 10-point bye report on the Indianapolis Colts:

Major issue: Injuries. We won’t even know a full list until Wednesday. Austin Collie is not going to play a week from Monday night against Houston, and Joseph Addai might not. Antonio Johnson just had knee surgery. Anthony Gonzalez hasn’t played since opening day. Already out long term: Dallas Clark, Bob Sanders, Melvin Bullitt.


Invitation to run: The Colts have run the ball quite well in two games when dared to do so, with great showing from Addai in wins against the Giants and Redskins. Addai is averaging 4.4 yards a carry, his best number since his rookie season when he was the second back. The Colts need to continue to find space for their backs when teams load up with defensive backs.

A major virtue: Against those loaded defensive backfields, Peyton Manning’s shown excellent patience, waiting for the right situations to throw it and accepting those invitations to hand off. This team, at least until healthy, is likely to have to scrap and claw more to win, and he’s perfectly comfortable working to make sure no one out-scraps or out-claws him.

Leaving us wondering: The Colts began the campaign in camp, reminding us how long it takes a pass-rushing end to get comfortable. So Jerry Hughes has appeared in three games and has one special teams tackle on his resume so far. The way injuries have gone, it seems likely they’ll need him on defense at some point.

Second-year jump: Jerraud Powers has built upon a good rookie year and is playing even better this season as the starting right corner. Fili Moala pushed his way past Antonio Johnson into the starting lineup at defensive tackle. But the interior line hasn’t done a whole lot to distinguish itself so far.

Return troubles: Devin Moore is on IR and Kenneth Moore was just cut. Jim Caldwell has promised to work on the return-game issues during the bye. Justin Tryon, Javarris James and Andre Brown look to be options. They could continue to use Powers on punts.

Star performance: Manning’s got 13 touchdowns, two picks and a passer rating of 103.4 despite all the injuries among his supporting cast. Reggie Wayne leads the league with 45 catches. Robert Mathis has 5.5 sacks while Dwight Freeney has three.

Notable numbers: The Colts have just one run of 20 yards or more … Manning is 16th in the NFL on third down with a 85.9 passer rating, but has a league-best 116.5 rating in the fourth quarter … Only four teams have fewer than the Colts 26 penalties … According to ESPN Stats & Info, Indianapolis has dropped 13 balls, but no individual has three … The Colts have run more offensive plays out of three-wide sets than any team in the league.

APB: Kelvin Hayden missed a lot of time last year hurt. He figured to be a boon to the secondary, but Powers has outplayed him. Hayden’s been off his game and is a guy who needs to play better considering the team is working a third-string free safety and is going to see guys like Andre Johnson, DeSean Jackson, Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens, Wes Welker and Miles Austin.

What’s to come: The rematch with the Texans is a giant division and conference game. Three more tough ones come after that, with a trip to Philadelphia, a home game against the Bengals and a game at New England.

Tony from Greensburg, Ind., writes: I loved the interview with Polian. I thought you asked some very good questions that many fans wanted answers to. But I would have liked to have seen some tough questions about Bob Sanders. I know he is a major concern with many fans. The guy has missed more games than he has played. What is the strategy to keeping him on the active roster? He is taking up valuable roster space. What are your thoughts?

Paul Kuharsky: I don’t see how the roster spot is hurting them right now. They have to deactivate eight guys a game. As long as they don’t have a ninth injured guy who can’t play, they can deactivate Sanders each week and miss nothing. If they feel that’s a fair trade-off for missing a body during the practice week, well, they can judge that far better than we can, no? With Donald Brown and Mike Hart hurt, they still had the roster flexibility to add a player they need -- they just brought in running back Javarris James.

I understand people are angry at Sanders for getting hurt repeatedly and at Polian for not cutting him. I don’t understand what there was to grill Polian about on the topic or why you’d prefer a rash decision that would leave them with no chance of having someone like Sanders late in the season or in the playoffs, which remains a possibility now.

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Ted in San Francisco, Calif., writes: Texans worked out Aaron Schobel, which makes me conclude he would have been willing to come out of retirement. Texans later signed Mark Anderson, showing they had need at DE. Anderson has such a worse track record than Schobel that I think it's fair to conclude that the Texans balked at paying Schobel. He may have been overweight, but they should hire him for what he can do in January. The Chronicle media are shy of this angle. Am I wrong in calling out the Texans for not spending?

Paul Kuharsky: We don’t know what happened and what didn’t happen. I can’t recall anything that’s made me think the Texans are cheap. Bob McNair is first class. If Gary Kubiak and Rick Smith told him “this guy can be the difference for us,” I think they would have signed him. I don’t believe they felt that way.

I wish he decided he wanted to keep playing when it ended in Buffalo and that they signed him then. But you can’t foresee the injury to Connor Barwin and I can, philosophically, understand not wanting to stunt his development.

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Cody Russell in Hendersonville, Tenn., writes: So the 2010 Best of Nashville Readers poll came out, and they polled for best Titan player. Here are the rankings 1. Chris Johnson; 2. Vince Young; 3. Cortland Finnegan. I was curious to know how you would have voted?

Paul Kuharsky: I’d say Johnson No. 1, Finnegan No. 2 and third would be between Michael Griffin and Jason Jones. Michael Roos would round out my five.

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Stephen in Jacksonville, Fla., writes: Who's blocking is usually more critical to the success of the running game: the tight end or the fullback?

Paul Kuharsky: Well it depends on what personnel you are deploying and the design of the plays. An inside play, it’s probably the fullback; outside it can be the tight end.

It’s not an easy A or B answer to me.

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Jerome in Jacksonville, Fla., writes: Do you happen to have Ditka's address? I'd like to mail him a pic of the pretty full stadium on Sunday versus Colts. Instructions included: [Not appropriate for print.] If you haven't heard, Ditka made an either A) Misinformed comment or B) Horribly delivered and unoriginal joke. "There will be only 25,000 fans" (paraphrasing)

Paul Kuharsky: I heard, live. I know people in North Florida are upset with him. I don’t have a pipeline. I did what I could by writing this.

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Matt Barron in Indianapolis writes: Paul, longtime reader, first time writer. As a Colts fan and an avid reader of all things AFC South, I've always enjoyed the fact you have a vote in ESPN's Power Rankings. My question this week is your comment listed with the Colts. A drop for them was both expected and deserved. But I was a little surprised you chose to mention the red zone turnovers in particular. Granted, losing the ball in that situation is something you never want to happen and isn't really the best way to win football games, but personally I think given the current climate the Colts' offense is doing great… On the other side of the coin is the defense, and to me that's where the real problems of that game were. The energy they used to show seemed non-existent, no pressure on Garrard, no pressure on receivers, no pressure on Maurice Jones-Drew. That seems like a far more alarming issue than a couple unlucky turnovers, especially with the mounting injuries.

Paul Kuharsky: Good to hear from you.

Seems unreasonable to hit me on one sentence. I could write about absolutely anything there. Odds that I write a line about the one thing you think I should have written about are pretty slim, don’t you think?

Certainly the defense is the big issue right now. But don’t turn it over those two times and they would have bailed the defense out. And I didn’t find them unlucky -- Gerald Alexander delivered a giant hit to Brody Eldridge and Reggie Wayne seemed to be a little greedy stretching for extra when he fumbled.

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Jordy in Boston writes: What's the ratio of "Your rankings are spot on. I agree with your opinions." to "You're a moron who should be fired and are totally biased against my team." emails you get weekly? I'm guessing 0:837,892.

Paul Kuharsky: That’s about right.