The tender ankle of Dwight Freeney was the dominant talking point when the Indianapolis Colts arrived in South Florida to make their final preparations for Super Bowl on Monday.
Freeney, a five-times Pro Bowler and anchor of the Indianapolis defensive front, hurt the ankle in the AFC title game against the New York Jets and is questionable for Sunday’s title game against the New Orleans Saints.
“He’s a great player, obviously a very talented guy,” Colts coach Jim Caldwell told reporters barely an hour after the team’s plane touched down in a driving rainstorm.
PHOTO: REUTERS
“There have been some guys from time to time that we’ve had to play without. If he can’t go, it’s kind of an old mantra that we’ve said time and time again: ‘The next man is up,’” he said.
The 29-year-old Freeney, who had 13.5 sacks this season, suffered a low ankle sprain against the Jets and has been in Miami since Friday receiving treatment.
Caldwell said Freeney is “certainly a quick healer” but was non-committal when asked if he thought the eight-year NFL veteran would suit up on Sunday.
“Well, he hasn’t been practising, so if he’s not practising then obviously we’re preparing as if he’s not going to play,” Caldwell said. “If we happen to get an opportunity to get him in there, we’ll obviously do so.”
Defensive tackle Daniel Muir said the club would miss Freeney but be able to cope.
“You want Dwight Freeney out there, but if he isn’t able to go, we’ll just have to go and pick up the bayonettes,” he said.
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