The Colts are preparing as though Curtis Painter will be their starting quarterback at Tampa Bay on Monday.
Kerry Collins still is recovering after suffering concussion-like symptoms Sunday against Pittsburgh and his status remains in doubt. That means the Colts are getting Painter ready for what would be his first NFL start.
“You have to,” Colts coach Jim Caldwell said Thursday. “There’s no other way to do it. I had this old adage when I started coaching that you’ve got to coach who shows up. Today, Curtis is practicing and Kerry is not, so obviously, we have to get him (Curtis) ready for the ballgame.”
Indy signed quarterback Dan Orlovsky to the active roster on Wednesday to provide depth. Peyton Manning isn’t expected to return until November or December as he recovers from neck surgery.
Painter has mostly struggled during his Indianapolis tenure, but he directed the Colts to a game-tying touchdown against Pittsburgh before Ben Roethlisberger led the Steelers to a winning field goal.
ROMO AT PRACTICE
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is enjoying two weeks of reputation rehab after back-to-back wins.
His body is feeling better, too, two weeks after he suffered a fractured rib and punctured lung.
“Each two or three days that goes by it just keeps getting better,” Romo said Thursday. “I was able to practice a little bit today and it’s good. I think it’s improving.”
Romo and the Cowboys (2-1) are preparing for Detroit (3-0) on Sunday at Cowboys Stadium.
Romo will again wear a protective vest Sunday and said that he plans on getting a pain-killing shot before the game.
JACKSON’S COMEBACK
Cleveland Browns middle linebacker D’Qwell Jackson has been named the AFC defensive player of the month for September, marking the beginning of a remarkable comeback.
In the past two years, Jackson has torn both of his pectoral muscles and missed 26 consecutive games with the injuries.
The AFC award is the first of Jackson’s six-year career.
MATTHEWS BENCHED
The Eagles have shuffled their linebacking corps again.
For the second time in as many games, Philadelphia coach Andy Reid and defensive coordinator Juan Castillo have shaken up the Eagles’ linebacking lineup, this time benching embattled rookie fourth-round pick Casey Matthews and replacing him at weakside outside linebacker with another rookie, 5-foot-10 Brian Rolle.
Rolle’s work in the Eagles’ nickel package the first three weeks of the season earned him the promotion over Matthews, younger brother of 2010 NFL defensive player of the year Clay Matthews of the Packers.
PLAYERS IN PINK
The NFL and the NFL Players Association will support Breast Cancer Awareness month with October games featuring pink cleats, gloves, wristbands, chin straps, footballs with pink ribbon decals and on-field pink ribbon stencils.
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