INDIANAPOLIS -
A majority of his opening season press conferences, defensive injuries have been the topic.
On Wednesday, Jim Caldwell again led off the comments with a statement on the team's latest major injury.
"Tyjuan Hagler, due to an injury suffered during the course of our ball game, has been place on IR," was the first thing Caldwell said on Wednesday, as the linebacker's season comes to an end with a ruptured bicep.
See: Colts Edge 49ers 18-14
Rookie linebacker and practice squad member Cody Glenn will take Hagler's spot on the Colts' roster, but its expected that second year linebacker Phillip Wheeler will get the start Sunday against Houston.
"He and (rookie linebacker Ramon) Humber will be the two guys that will actually kinda battle it out and share the playing time there," said Caldwell of replacing Hagler
Its one that many defensive player put into similar situations have done this season. The most recent example is on the defensive line, where started Ed Johnson's surprise cut gave a few unknowns a chance to make a contribution at tackle. Daniel Muir has been put in as the main starter, and has accumulated nine tackles and a half-sack against St. Louis and San Francisco.
See: Colts' Addai Becomes QB-For A Play
Second-year tackle Eric Foster and rookie Fili Moala have switched in and out with with Muir along side of season-long starter Antonio Johnson.
"Those guys have been there all season and we do a great job of rotating "D" tackles," said defensive end Dwight Freeney of the defensive tackles. "Collectively I'll put those guys up against anybody."
The biggest replacement this season-thought its really an extension of one that began a year ago-is Melvin Bullitt in the place of Bob Sanders. Knee troubles kept the 2007 NFL Defensive Player of the Year out of training camp practices and the first five games of this season, making Bullitt the primary starter.
In those five games. Bullitt had 22 tackles and was an important part in successful transition of the Colts' defense to a more aggressive style under new defensive coordinator Larry Coyer.
See: Colts' Addai Becomes QB-For A Play
Wheeler hopes to follow the path of Bullitt, who spent his first season on special teams in 2007 before he got into the lineup for the injured Sanders in his second season. Wheeler has 10 tackles this season, including one while he was filling in for Hagler in the fourth quarter when the starter left the game with a bicep injury.
"He has no choice," said Caldwell when asked if Wheeler is ready to step in and start. "He's a guy that's been around us for a couple of year now, he's been in the system, he knows it, so he's gonna get his opportunity."
On Wednesday, Jim Caldwell again led off the comments with a statement on the team's latest major injury.
"Tyjuan Hagler, due to an injury suffered during the course of our ball game, has been place on IR," was the first thing Caldwell said on Wednesday, as the linebacker's season comes to an end with a ruptured bicep.
See: Colts Edge 49ers 18-14
Rookie linebacker and practice squad member Cody Glenn will take Hagler's spot on the Colts' roster, but its expected that second year linebacker Phillip Wheeler will get the start Sunday against Houston.
"He and (rookie linebacker Ramon) Humber will be the two guys that will actually kinda battle it out and share the playing time there," said Caldwell of replacing Hagler
Its one that many defensive player put into similar situations have done this season. The most recent example is on the defensive line, where started Ed Johnson's surprise cut gave a few unknowns a chance to make a contribution at tackle. Daniel Muir has been put in as the main starter, and has accumulated nine tackles and a half-sack against St. Louis and San Francisco.
See: Colts' Addai Becomes QB-For A Play
Second-year tackle Eric Foster and rookie Fili Moala have switched in and out with with Muir along side of season-long starter Antonio Johnson.
"Those guys have been there all season and we do a great job of rotating "D" tackles," said defensive end Dwight Freeney of the defensive tackles. "Collectively I'll put those guys up against anybody."
The biggest replacement this season-thought its really an extension of one that began a year ago-is Melvin Bullitt in the place of Bob Sanders. Knee troubles kept the 2007 NFL Defensive Player of the Year out of training camp practices and the first five games of this season, making Bullitt the primary starter.
In those five games. Bullitt had 22 tackles and was an important part in successful transition of the Colts' defense to a more aggressive style under new defensive coordinator Larry Coyer.
See: Colts' Addai Becomes QB-For A Play
Wheeler hopes to follow the path of Bullitt, who spent his first season on special teams in 2007 before he got into the lineup for the injured Sanders in his second season. Wheeler has 10 tackles this season, including one while he was filling in for Hagler in the fourth quarter when the starter left the game with a bicep injury.
"He has no choice," said Caldwell when asked if Wheeler is ready to step in and start. "He's a guy that's been around us for a couple of year now, he's been in the system, he knows it, so he's gonna get his opportunity."
