The Indianapolis Colts are prepared to do battle without Andrew Luck for a second straight week.
The team announced that backup quarterback Matt Hasselbeck will start Thursday night against the Houston Texans. Luck was listed as officially inactive by the team after throwing during pregame warmups. The QB suffered a shoulder injury in Week 3.
Hasselbeck -- at 40, the oldest non-kicker in the NFL -- is battling a bacterial infection, and he isn't sure if he can play a full four quarters, he told NFL Network's Stacey Dales. Hasselbeck said he felt drained after practice Wednesday and that he spent all Thursday afternoon receiving IV fluids. He's concerned about what his energy levels will be like against the Texans, he told Dales.
The infection initially landed him in the hospital for a dose of IV fluids after last week's 16-13 win over the Jaguars. He was in the emergency room until 2 a.m. Tuesday.
Hasselbeck was back at practice later that Tuesday morning but barely threw, which is why the Colts signed Josh Johnson to get them through practice, according to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport. Hasselbeck is feeling a bit better, but is still sick.
