INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Colts were missing three starters at Thursday's practice, including former Pro Bowl safety Bob Sanders.
The Colts (3-0) have made Thursday a regular off day for Sanders, in an effort to keep him healthy all season. The former Pro Bowl safety missed half of his first 48 games in the league because of injuries, and if he starts Sunday against Denver, as expected, would match last year's total of four regular-season starts.
The Colts also worked for the second straight day without the left side of their starting offensive line -- rookie tackle Tony Ugoh (left ankle) and guard Ryan Lilja (right knee) -- and kept receiver Roy Hall (separated left shoulder), linebacker Clint Session (hamstring) and backup tackle Charlie Johnson (left knee) out of practice.
Hall has the most serious injury and is expected to miss at least three weeks after his violent collision with Houston defensive tackle Cedric Killings on a kickoff return last Sunday.
Starting outside linebacker Rob Morris, who missed the last two games with an abdominal strain, participated in all of Thursday's drills after being held out of part of Wednesday's practice. Morris said Wednesday he expects to start against the Broncos.
Cornerback Marlin Jackson (quad), another starter, participated in some of Thursday's practice after sitting out Wednesday, and backup cornerback Tim Jennings (knee), who sat out Wednesday, participated in all of Thursday's drills.
Linebacker Tyjuan Hagler, who replaced starting outside linebacker Freddy Keiaho in Week 2, also returned to action after missing Wednesday's workout because of personal matters.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
