Chuck Pagano: They can fire you but they can’t eat you

Colts coach Chuck Pagano says there is one name that O’Brien can strike from the list.

Pagano announced at his press conference that Andrew Luck will NOT play this Sunday against the Houston Texans. Luck said yesterday he’s closer to returning from a lacerated kidney, but he still needs to be cleared by doctors before he can even practice.

“The hope is that you can start practicing before (being cleared to play) so that when you are clear, you can hit the ground running”, Luck said. Luck will miss the game with an injury. Hasselbeck is dealing with a rib injury and was seen wearing a sling earlier in the week.

Zak Keefer of the Indianapolis Star notes Luck returned to the practice field on Wednesday for the first since November 6, a 40-day drought.

While Luck sounded optimistic about practicing this week, coach Chuck Pagano said the Colts didn’t expect Hasselbeck to practice until Thursday.

Despite that, Pagano also noted that “it wouldn’t be wise” for the Colts not to prepare Charlie Whitehurst, so they’re working with him and getting him ready in case he will have to start, though the expectation at this point is that it will be Hasselbeck.

The Colts are now fighting for the postseason lives, and with both Indianapolis and Houston 6-7 on the year, Sunday’s matchup in Lucas Oil Stadium could determine who wins this division. While there is a chance that Luck could return this week, it’s more likely that the Colts will be cautious, as Luck said last week that he is not yet close to being 100 percent, although the return to practice is a good sign for his recovery.