By: http://flic.kr/p/3ocBi2
After last week’s ugly loss on the road in Chicago, Colts fans are ready to see the team come out on fire in their first regular season home game on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. It will be Andrew Luck’s first regular season game at Lucas Oil Stadium. I can only speak for myself, but I’m sure me along with plenty of other Colts fans are ready to see Luck play at full capacity in his new home.
The Vikings arrive in Indy coming off a win last week against Jacksonville. The Colts defense will have two strikes against them this week: a healthy Vikings running back Adrian Peterson and an injured Dwight Freeney.
On December 24, 2011, Peterson received an early (and unwanted) Christmas gift when he tore his ACL and MCL in a game against the Washington Redskins. Peterson remained on injured reserve for the remainder of the season. After reconstructive surgery and rehab, Peterson stated this week that he feels, “95%” healed from his injury. In last week’s game against the Jags, Peterson proved himself to be nearly 100% after scoring 2 touchdowns and rushing 84 yards.
On the Colts defensive side, they will more than likely be without key outside linebacker, Dwight Freeney. Freeney suffered a high ankle sprain in last week’s game against Chicago. According the Indianapolis Colts website, Freeney has not participated in practice all week, likely taking it easy on the ankle.
At Wednesday’s Colts press conference, Coach Chuck Pagano stated that Freeney’s status was “day to day.” Interpret that how you may.
Pagano also stated in that same press conference that wide receiver Austin Collie would make his regular season debut after suffering a concussion in the Colts August 19 game against the Steelers. To me, this is a concern, seeing as how Collie’s most recent concussion was his third concussion in the last three seasons.
The Colts make their regular season debut at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday at 1 p.m.
