INDIANAPOLIS — The Colts are hoping to get three key defenders back this week to face the Jets, but coach Jim Caldwell hardly exuded confidence about them yesterday.
Linebacker Clint Session, defensive tackle Dan Muir and left cornerback Kelvin Hayden — three starters — are trying to make it back for Saturday’s AFC wild-card matchup here.
Session is nursing an elbow injury, Muir has a chest issue and Hayden is battling a neck ailment. Asked about all three facing the Jets, the famously wooden Caldwell was even quieter than usual yesterday.
“Not real sure yet,” Caldwell said before Session was scheduled to a small amount of work in yesterday’s practice here.
Session missed the final nine regular-season games, Muir was absent for the last two and Hayden the final five.
Tyjuan Hagler is Session’s backup. Muir has rookie Ricardo Mathews behind him, and Justin Tryon likely would start if Hayden can’t go at corner.
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The Colts think they dodged a bullet with linebacker Gary Brackett
, who was sweating out a potential suspension after a helmet-to-helmet hit last Sunday.
Indianapolis’ defensive captain already has been fined twice this season for illegal hits, and there was thought a third incident could get him booted against the Jets. But suspensions usually are announced early in the week, and Brackett’s name has not been called.
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Caldwell said he is especially concerned with Jets RB Shonn Greene
because the Colts are undersized on defense.
“Obviously he is highly productive like a lot of backs we’ve seen, but he is more of a powerful, brutish runner,” Caldwell said. “He is one of those guys who runs extremely well behind his pads. He can wear you down.”
Greene had two 100-yard rushing games in the playoffs last year before being held to just 41 yards by Indianapolis in the AFC title game.
“He is just as strong at the end of the game as he was at the beginning of the game and seems to be getting stronger,” Caldwell said. “He is more of a power runner than what we’ve faced in recent times.”