Colts waiting for injury updates on starters Freeney, Vinatieri

INDIANAPOLIS -- When Indianapolis Colts defensive lineman Dwight Freeney limped to the sideline with about six minutes left in Sunday's game, coach Tony Dungy knew something was wrong.\nNow the team is waiting to see if its defensive anchor can play in next week's critical AFC South showdown with Jacksonville.\n"It's some muscle in the leg, but I don't know if it's a hip flexor or a hamstring or what it is," Dungy said Monday. "I really don't know if Dwight will be out any length of time."\nDungy said three players -- Freeney, receiver Brandon Stokley and kicker Adam Vinatieri -- all were awaiting MRI results.\nStokley aggravated a sprained left ankle that kept him out most of training camp, all the preseason and the season-opener against the Giants. He apparently reinjured the ankle when he tiptoed the end line on his 10-yard touchdown catch Sunday.\nVinatieri hurt his groin during Sunday's 43-24 victory against Houston and did not kick the extra point or kick off after the Colts' final scoring drive.\nBut the injury to Freeney is the greatest concern for Indianapolis (2-0).\nThe three-time Pro Bowl selection and former NFL sacks champion is the cornerstone of a defense that improved dramatically last season and relies more on speed than size. He's the franchise leader in sacks (51) and is the first Colts player to ever record double-digit sacks in four straight seasons. Sacks were not an official statistic until 1982.\n"I really don't know much other than that with about six minutes left, he wasn't in there, so I knew it must be bothering him," Dungy said. "Those guys don't normally like to give up sack opportunities."\nIt wasn't clear how Freeney was hurt, either.\nOn Houston's second-to-last drive, he limped off the field, kneeled down on the sideline and eventually walked with a trainer into the locker room before the game ended.\nHe missed some practices during training camp with an injured shoulder.\nFreeney has been nicked in the past but still managed to play. Since the Colts took him with the 11th overall pick in the 2002 draft, he has missed only one game. He earned the starting job midway through his rookie season and has started all but six games since then. Two of those came at the end of last season when Indianapolis benched most of its starters after clinching the AFC's No. 1 seed.\nTeammates thought Freeney did the right thing by coming out Sunday -- even if it made fans and coaches nervous.\n"He was hurt, he couldn't go and we need him for the long haul," defensive tackle Montae Reagor said. "Why play on one leg? I know it's probably not what people want to see, but the game was already in hand."\nThe other big concern is Vinatieri -- Indianapolis' most significant offseason acquisition. Dungy said the team had already discussed bringing in another kicker to handle kickoffs as a precaution.\nVinatieri injured his left foot Aug. 14 and did not practice again until the preseason ended. The Colts later issued a statement that Vinatieri had a sprained ligament and a small bone chip in his left foot, but the latest injury does not appear to be related.\nThe Colts signed Vinatieri as a free agent from New England and hoped he could save a roster spot by kicking off and placekicking. He's also known as the league's best clutch kicker. He made winning field goals in two of New England's three Super Bowl wins and two more in a snowstorm that helped the Patriots beat Oakland en route to their first title.\nOn Sunday, Vinatieri connected on field goals from 39, 43 and 38 yards, made all four of his extra points and had a touchback that drew cheers from a crowd that rarely sees them.\n"We have to see where Adam is," Dungy said. "He's a pretty good judge of what he can do."\nIf the Colts opt for another kicker, one possibility would be re-signing Shane Andrus who did most of the kicking during the preseason.\n"Shane would be a pretty good candidate, and I'm sure we'll have a lot of kickers call this week," Dungy said.\nDungy also said tight end Ben Utecht, who left early with a head injury, would have to undergo tests to determine he can play against Jacksonville.