The Indianapolis Colts are hoping that Andrew Luck can return in Week 17, as both Matt Hasselbeck and Charlie Whitehurst are dealing with injuries. The Colts have worked out Josh Freeman and if the team can somehow make the playoffs past the Texans, Luck potentially could return in the postseason from his injuries.
UPDATE: Colts have signed Josh Freeman.
The Colts remain alive in the playoff hunt, but just barely after the Texans won against the Tennessee Titans last week. The Colts need a TON of things to go right to make the playoffs, but they have gotten off to a good start, as the team needed the Broncos to beat the Bengals and that did happen on Monday. The Colts basically need to get in position to win the tiebreaker over the Houston Texans to win the AFC South and to do that they just need nine, yep count 'em, NINE things to happen on Sunday to get it done
The Colts obviously have to win their game against the Titans and apart from that they need eight teams to finish the season the right way to end up making it. The team needs to get a tie with the Texans in the fifth tiebreaker in the conference and then win the sixth to take the AFC South. So if the Colts win on Sunday, the team needs the Jaguars to win over the Titans, the Falcons to beat the Saints, Miami to beat New England, Denver to beat San Diego, Baltimore to beat Cincinnati, the Bills to beat the Jets, Oakland or win over Kansas city and for the Steelers to beat the Browns. That's it, just that.
Making the playoffs is looking highly unlikely and the Colts also have a major issue to deal with at the quarterback position. Andrew Luck has been banged up and may not be medically cleared to play in Week 17, while Matt Hasselbeck suffered a shoulder injury on Sunday. According to Pro Football Talk, Hasselbeck suffered a sprained AC joint, while Charlie Whitehurst suffered a hamstring injury and has been placed on injured reserve. The Colts reportedly worked out Josh Freeman and the team also has Stephen Morris as an option after signing him from the Eagles practice squad.
Luck potentially could be cleared to play for Week 17, but he has been out for a while with kidney and abdominal injuries and has not been able to do much in workouts. Hasselbeck could be ready to play, but with his shoulder being injured and having suffered multiple injuries the past couple weeks, he may be out as well. Morris could be the option as a last resort if the team doesn't use Freeman, as it looks like Luck and Hasselbeck will not be ready to go.