Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin was added to the injury report on Thursday ahead of the team's season finale on Sunday against the Houston Texans.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Indianapolis Colts (8-8) and Houston Texans (11-5) near their season finale in Texas on Sunday afternoon, but it appears both sides may have to face off without some firepower.
Here is how both teams' health is shaping up ahead of Sunday afternoon's matchup.
COLTS
WEDNESDAY
The Colts had a walkthrough on Wednesday. The practice participation is an estimation of a regular practice.
- Did Not Participate — CB Sauce Gardner (calf), CB Jaylon Jones (illness), TE Will Mallory (lung), G Dalton Tucker (shoulder)
- Limited Participant — DE JT Tuimoloau (oblique)
- Full Participant — CB Mekhi Blackmon (back), C Tanor Bortolini (concussion), IOL Danny Pinter (rib), OT Bernhard Raimann (elbow), QB Anthony Richardson Sr. (IR-eye), S Daniel Scott (IR-knee)
THURSDAY
- Did Not Participate — LB Zaire Franklin (illness), CB Sauce Gardner (calf), TE Will Mallory (lung)
- Full Participant — CB Mekhi Blackmon (back), C Tanor Bortolini (concussion), CB Jaylon Jones (illness), IOL Danny Pinter (rib), OT Bernhard Raimann (elbow), QB Anthony Richardson Sr. (IR-eye), S Daniel Scott (knee), G Dalton Tucker (shoulder), DE JT Tuimoloau (oblique)
Franklin was added to the injury report on Thursday with an illness. Colts head coach Shane Steichen will speak to reporters again on Friday afternoon, so some clarity should be provided on Franklin's status.
Otherwise, the biggest player the Colts will almost certainly be without is Gardner, who missed three games recently with his injury before returning last week and then exiting the game early with the same injury.
It appears promising for the Colts to potentially get Bortolini back from the concussion protocol if he clears it, as he's practiced in full all week so far.
Tuimoloau also missed last week's game with his injury, but he's progressed this week.
Steichen announced on Wednesday that the Colts will not be activating Richardson from IR.
TEXANS
WEDNESDAY
- Did Not Participate — LB Azeez Al-Shaair (knee/shoulder), DE Denico Autry (knee), OT Trent Brown (ankle/knee), WR Nico Collins (rest), LB Jamal Hill (calf), CB Kamari Lassiter (ankle/knee), DT Sheldon Rankins (elbow), TE Dalton Schultz (personal), CB Derek Stingley (oblique)
- Limited Participant — OT Aireontae Ersery (thumb), K Ka'imi Fairbairn (illness), G Ed Ingram (ankle)
- Full Participant — LS Austin Brinkman (knee), CB Ajani Carter (IR-hamstring), DE Darrell Taylor (IR-ankle)
THURSDAY
- Did Not Participate — LB Jamal Hill (calf), CB Kamari Lassiter (ankle/knee)
- Limited Participant — LB Azeez Al-Shaair (knee/shoulder), DE Denico Autry (knee), OT Trent Brown (ankle/knee), WR Nico Collins (rest), G Ed Ingram (ankle), DT Sheldon Rankins (elbow), CB Derek Stingley (oblique)
- Full Participant — LS Austin Brinkman (knee), CB Ajani Carter (IR-hamstring), OT Aireontae Ersery (thumb), K Ka'imi Fairbairn (illness), DE Darrell Taylor (IR-ankle)
Houston had a lengthy injury report of significant players missing some or all of practice through the first two days, including Al-Shaair, Autry, Brown, Lassiter, Rankings, and Stingley.
The Colts and Texans face off on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. ET at NRG Stadium on CBS.
Jake Arthur has been covering the Indianapolis Colts for over a dozen years and is a member of the PFWA. He's one half of the Locked On Colts podcast and has worked for the Colts' official website, On SI, and more. You can follow him on X @JakeArthurNFL.