Injured Jackson, Johnson make return for first practices of camp

Published: Aug 10, 2009 at 09:09 AM

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Colts cornerback Marlin Jackson couldn't wait to start hitting again.

Offensive lineman Charlie Johnson just wanted to know where he'd be playing this season.

Both got their wishes Monday. Jackson and Johnson, now penciled in as the Colts' left tackle, made it onto the practice field for the first time after recuperating from injuries last week.

"It was difficult to sit out," said Jackson, who will practice just once a day. "I had to tell myself all week to be patient, my time would come and I'd be ready to go."

Jackson returned after having right knee surgery twice since October. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament and damaged the meniscus during a non-contact practice in October.

Johnson was coming back from a torn pectoral muscle, an injury he incurred during offseason weightlifting in April.

He also got a promotion.

Coach Jim Caldwell announced after practice that the versatile lineman is moving yet again, this time into Tony Ugoh's spot at left tackle. That means Johnson will protect the blind side of three-time league MVP Peyton Manning.

Johnson has started 26 games over the past two seasons, including nine at left tackle, and he spent most of the morning practice working with the starting unit. He also replaced right tackle Ryan Diem in the second half of the Super Bowl and played so well that Manning said he didn't notice immediately Diem was on the sideline.

Ugoh was projected to be the Colts' left tackle of the future when the Colts moved up in the second round to draft him in 2007. But he immediately became a starter when Tarik Glenn unexpectedly retired that summer. Ugoh played relatively well in his first season before struggling last year.

Caldwell said the decision was made during the offseason but with Johnson hurt, the transition was neither apparent nor announced.

But the battle isn't completely over.

"That's where we slated him (Johnson) to play," Caldwell said. "We'll probably have Tony bounce back and forth between left and right. Those two will continue to battle it out. Tony's not out of it."

Clearly, though, it's Johnson's job to lose.

For a man who has played tackle and guard on the left and right side of the line, finding a home is a welcome development.

"I just go where I'm told," Johnson said. "It's been this way for four years now. If it is, that's good. I feel comfortable there and I'll play to the best of my ability."

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The Colts also practiced again without running back Mike Hart and backup quarterback Jim Sorgi.

Both were injured during Friday afternoon's workout. Hart, who came back from a torn ACL, injured his right ankle and has missed the team's last three practices. Sorgi, the longtime backup to Manning, strained his right hamstring and could miss two weeks.

The injury is expected to keep Sorgi out of Friday night's preseason opener against Minnesota, so the Colts signed rookie Chris Crane. The only other quarterbacks on the roster are Manning and rookie Curtis Painter.

"We had to bring in another quarterback because of Jim's injury," Caldwell said. "How long will it take to get back? It may be a couple of weeks or so."

Tight end Dallas Clark also took a break Monday morning. Caldwell said he was not hurt, just resting.

First-round pick Donald Brown returned to the field after sitting out Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. Caldwell had said Brown was sore.

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