Colts still waiting on QB decision
Chuck Pagano is more worried about trying to find a starting quarterback than he is about whether he’ll still be Colts coach next week.
Even a day after team owner Jim Irsay said he hasn’t made a decision on the team’s leadership for next season, Pagano is focused on Sunday’s regularseason finale against the Titans.
“I’ve had no time to think about any of that stuff,” Pagano said, “other than preparing for this ball game.”
A report by ESPN on Thursday claimed the team planned to fire Pagano on Monday — a report Irsay quickly dismissed. But if true, and if Pagano wants to end his tenure in Indianapolis with a win, the Colts (7-8) have to figure out who will start at quarterback against the Titans (3-12).
Andrew Luck was ruled out earlier this week, and on Friday, Matt Hasselbeck, who stepped into the starting role when Luck was injured against the Broncos on Nov. 8, was ruled out with shoulder, ribs and back injuries.
Charlie Whitehurst, the backup to Hasselbeck, was placed on injured reserve Monday with a hamstring injury. That leaves Josh Freeman, Ryan Lindley and Stephen Morris as the Colts’ options under center. Morris has been with the team the longest, but the Colts signed him only last week.
“It’s been just crazy, a lot of studying, a lot of late nights,” Morris said. “I think the biggest thing is just knowing where the ball has to go. The faster you can feel comfortable in it, the better chances you have on the field. When the
lights are on and things are flying, you’re going to revert back to what you’ve been doing in practice.”
Gurley likely done: Rams rookie running back Todd Gurley missed his third straight practice because of a right foot injury and likely will not play in the Rams’ final regular-season game Sunday against the 49ers.
The 10th overall pick in the draft, Gurley spent the last week getting treatment on his foot after being hurt late in the second half of the Rams’ win over the Seahawks.
Gurley has improved, but coach Jeff Fisher said he doesn’t want to risk making the injury worse.
Lynch to return soon: Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said running back Marshawn Lynch has a good chance of returning to practice Monday as the team prepares for the postseason.
Lynch has missed the last six games after undergoing surgery to repair an abdomen injury Nov. 25.
Extra points: Chiefs LB Justin Houston returned to practice for the first time in more than a month and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Raiders. Houston hasn’t played since he hyperextended his knee against the Bills on Nov. 29. He has 71⁄2 sacks in 11 games. ... NT Linval Joseph likely will miss the Vikings’ game against the Packers because of a foot injury. The winner of the game between the playoff-bound teams will be the NFC North champ. ... Patriots WR Julian Edelman, who hasn’t played since breaking a bone in his left foot Nov. 15, didn’t travel to Miami for Sunday’s game.