Indianapolis Colts Strategy and Personnel

: The Colts have placed QB Jim Sorgi on the team's injured reserve list with a shoulder injury. Sorgi appeared in one game in 2009 and had been inactive this season since the New England game.

Indianapolis has also signed OT Michael Toudouze. Toudouze originally was a 2006 fifth-round selection by the Colts out of TCU. He has spent time between the practice squad and active roster during his three years with the club. Toudouze appeared in four games in 2007 and one postseason game in 2008.

The Colts also made two moves on their practice squad, signing QB Drew Willy and waiving QB Shane Boyd. Willy, a rookie out of Buffalo, originally signed as a free agent with Baltimore.



PLAYER NOTES

--DE Dwight Freeney (abdominal) expects to be able to play this week against Denver. Freeney missed the Houston game two weeks ago but was able to see limited work against Tennessee a week ago.

--OT Tony Ugoh played well in the win over the Titans last week. Ugoh filled in for injured OT Charlie Johnson at left offensive tackle. He could start again if Johnson is unable to play against Denver.

--CB Kelvin Hayden (knee) saw limited work against Tennessee last Sunday. Hayden had been sidelined since Nov. 1 when he sprained his knee against the San Francisco 49ers. His workload this week could increase.

--RB Mike Hart filled in last week when rookie RB Donald Brown was forced to miss the Tennessee game with a chest injury. Hart has become a fan favorite for his style of play when he is on the field. He could get more work on Sunday against Denver.

--PK Matt Stover may end up staying with the Colts for the remainder of the year. Stover was signed when veteran PK Adam Vinatieri was forced to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. While Vinatieri's rehab continues to go well -- he might be back by the end of the regular season -- team officials like the lift that Stover has given the team since being added to the active roster.

GAME PLAN: Control the tempo of the game, both offensively and defensively.

Indianapolis will try to keep its running game going and take advantage of the Broncos' pass coverage downfield. The Colts have done a pretty good job this season at taking advantage of mismatches in coverage and that will be important this week.

Defensively, Indianapolis will have to be able to put pressure on Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton from both outside as well as up the middle. Denver has a good running game and likes to use play action to set up passing plays downfield. Keeping plays in front of them and not allowing anything deep will be important for the Colts.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Colts WR Reggie Wayne vs. Broncos CB Champ Bailey. Wayne has had some success catching the ball against Denver in the past, especially in the postseason. Bailey, meanwhile, remains as one of the best pure cover corners in the league. Two of the NFL's best players at their respective positions facing off against each other should be interesting to watch.

Broncos OTs Ryan Clady and Brandon Gorin vs. Colts DEs Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. Clady is quickly coming into his own as one of the better left offensive tackles in the league. Gorin is expected to step up and take over for injured starter Ryan Harris. Freeney and Mathis are both nicked up a bit but should provide a pretty good pass rush from the outside.

Colts RB Joseph Addai vs. Broncos OLB Elvis Dumervil. Addai has become a key pass blocker for Indianapolis since joining the team as a rookie in 2006. Dumervil can line up as a defensive end or as an outside linebacker in Denver's 3-4 defensive package. He has 15 sacks this season.

INJURY IMPACT:

--DT Keyunta Dawson (knee) returned to practice Wednesday. Dawson had been sidelined for the last couple of weeks. Dawson's status for the Denver game won't be decided until Friday or Saturday.

--S Antoine Bethea (rest) did not practice Wednesday. Bethea is expected to start Sunday against Denver.

--RB Donald Brown (chest) did not practice Wednesday. Brown's availability for the Broncos' game won't be known until Friday or Saturday.

--S Aaron Francisco (ankle) has not practiced for the last couple of weeks. He is not expected to play Sunday against Denver.

--DE Dwight Freeney (rest/abdominal) did not practice Wednesday. Freeney is expected to start the Denver game on Sunday.

--OT Charlie Johnson (foot) was held out of Wednesday's workout. Johnson's status for the Broncos game won't be updated until Saturday.

--DE Robert Mathis (quadriceps) did not practice on Wednesday. Mathis will probably play against Denver but a final decision won't be made until later in the week.

--LB Clint Session (calf) did not practice on Wednesday. Session should be okay to play in the Broncos game this week.

--OT Tony Ugoh (hip) was held out of Wednesday's practice. Ugoh is expected to be available to play Sunday against Denver.