Brackett will miss game
December 31
Indianapolis Star
"Coach Tony Dungy stopped short of naming Tyjuan Hagler a starter Tuesday, but Dungy ruled out middle linebacker Gary Brackett for the Indianapolis Colts' wild-card playoff game Saturday at San Diego.
"Gary will not play this week, but he's making progress and we'll visit it again next week if we win," Dungy said Tuesday.
Brackett has been out since suffering a fractured fibula Nov. 30 at Cleveland. Buster Davis has started in his stead but would sit down were Hagler to start.
"We'll let that play out," Dungy said. "We're going to practice several different groups and probably a lot of it will depend on how they play. They play a lot of two tight ends (sets). They play a lot of three wide receivers (sets). It may depend on what groups we see from them."
The Colts could open with five defensive backs, but Hagler expects to start. He did Sunday, when the Colts beat Tennessee 23-0 in their regular-season finale.
"I'm starting over there," Hagler said Tuesday. "I'm pretty much expecting the same role, the same amount of playing time."
Hagler figures to move into the spot vacated by Freddy Keiaho, who will shift to the middle, or "mike," to replace Davis and also play in nickel and dime situations.
"It's just a natural transition for me," Keiaho said. "I was always said to be the No. 2 'mike,' so that's just what I'm going to do.""
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