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INDIANAPOLISTwo days into Titans prep and it looks like it will have to come down to Friday’s final practice of the week in order for Carson Wentz to participate.

Along with no Wentz during the media viewing of Thursday’s practice, OT-Braden Smith (foot, thumb) was not spotted either. But the Colts did have CB-Xavier Rhodes (calf) back for his first work since the season started. That’s massive for a defense facing Julio Jones and A.J. Brown this weekend.

Here are some Thursday takeaways from the Colts:

  • Carson Wentz (ankles) was not present when the media was outside watching the first 30 minutes of Thursday’s practice. Again, Wentz practicing in some capacity on Friday is an almost must if he wants to play in Week 3. Frank Reich has never had a quarterback miss an entire week of practice and play that week. Carson Wentz can’t recall himself after missing a full week of work and still playing.

 

  • What would make the Colts ponder the idea of starting Brett Hundley this Sunday? Well, Hundley has 685 career snaps (9 starts) compared to just 5 for Jacob Eason. A counter to that would be Eason took many, many more starting reps in camp/the preseason, compared to Hundley’s minimal work with the third team. Another aspect to factor is Hundley brings a more mobile element to the position than Eason. Think Andrew Luck-type runner with Hundley. Eason isn’t an outright statue by any means, but he isn’t as deft outside the pocket making plays as Hundley.

 

  • If you missed it on Wednesday, we explored some possibilities of how the Colts might handle the quarterback position this Sunday. If the Colts do indeed decide to go with Hundley over Eason on Sunday, what would that say about the 2020 4th round pick and his future in Indy? Why is Eason the backup on game days—meaning the team is willing to put him into the game in a sudden instance, more so than Hundley—if they are undecided on if he should be the guy in a given week, if the starter can’t play?

 

  • Every time the Colts hit the road to take on the Titans, this stat of dominance amazes me: The Colts have won 8 of their last 9 games in Nashville and 14 of 17. It’s amazing to see the Colts continue to win in Nashville, over all the different regimes for both organizations, especially with the Titans not being a dormant team in that span.

 

  • Want a stat that would stump just about anybody? Since Week 15 of the 202 season, who leads the NFL in receiving touchdowns? How about….the one and only…Zach Pascal. The 6 touchdown grabs for Pascal in this 5-game span tops the entire league.

 

  • The Colts do lead the league in one stat through two weeks. That would be as the least penalized team in the NFL. With just 4 penalties for 41 yards, the Colts have been outstanding in avoiding yellow flags.

 

  • There are several Colts connections on the Titans roster: DL-Denico Autry (2018-20), S-Matthias Farley (2016-18), RB-Jeremy McNichols (2018) and WR-Chester Rogers (2016-19). In Autry and Rogers, the Titans have a couple of important guys contributing for them.

 

  • It did not appear the following Colts were practicing on Thursday: OT-Braden Smith (foot), QB-Carson Wentz (ankles), LB-Darius Leonard (ankle), OT-Eric Fisher. The following players were practicing: WR-Zach Pascal (illness), CB-Xavier Rhodes (calf), WR-Parris Campbell (abdomen), LG-Quenton Nelson (back, foot).

 

  • The Colts will have one more practice on Friday before a Saturday walk-through ahead of the first road trip of the year on Sunday in a 1:00 PM kickoff in Nashville.

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