Ryan Lilja News

On the Indianapolis Colts sideline, sixth-year left guard Ryan Lilja leaned toward offensive linemate Mike Pollak.

When the call came in from the sideline, a play that asked for Joseph Addai to run left, then pull back and throw a pass to Reggie Wayne in the end zone, Indianapolis Colts left guard Ryan Lilja had this thought: "Uh-oh." Or something along those lines.

The Indianapolis Colts are back to their October ways. They're 5-0, hold a three-game lead in the AFC South and have two fewer losses than San Diego, Pittsburgh or New England - the three teams that traditionally eliminate Indy from the playoffs.

Some people call them trap games, these apparently one-sided NFL matchups that can reach up and bite the favored team.

The lime was lame. The Day-Glo was heck-no. If the Seattle Seahawks had come out in uniforms that looked like a Jackson Pollock canvas, they would have been more eye-pleasing than those Frankfurt Galaxy-on-acid uniforms they rolled out last Sunday.

Twenty months is a long layoff between football games. The last time before Sunday that Indianapolis Colts left guard Ryan Lilja had started an NFL game that counted was at the RCA Dome.

Jim Caldwell spent an entire offseason trying to fix the Colts' ground game. The coach used a first-round draft pick on running back Donald Brown.

Here's what I scribbled on the notepad when watching Sunday's game again: * Jacksonville comes out in a 3-4 alignment, but the Colts are ready for it.

It's more about the dream than the money for backup center Kyle DeVan, but hey, the paydays aren't bad.

The Indianapolis Colts hope to find their running game Sunday when the Jacksonville Jaguars visit Lucas Oil Stadium.

Coach Jim Caldwell rapped his knuckles on the wooden podium as he considered the health of the Indianapolis Colts heading into Sunday's season opener against Jacksonville.

Bob Sanders may be on the Indianapolis Colts' regular-season roster heading into the National Football League's opening weekend.

Saw a very interesting note in a recent article from Matt Dollinger at Colts .com: The Colts plan to insert some new players on special teams to bolster their return game, Caldwell said.

Browse more photos>> Contrary to popular myth, Bill Polian does indeed sign free agents.

Already without five front-line players because of injury, the Indianapolis Colts will be without a sixth this afternoon against the Detroit Lions.

The Colts will show off their front-line players for an extended time this afternoon in Detroit against the Lions.

Colts offensive lineman Ryan Lilja will miss Saturday's preseason game against the Detroit Lions.

Guard Ryan Lilja is out but cornerback Marlin Jackson likely will see his first action of the preseason Saturday when the Indianapolis Colts meet the Lions in Detroit's Ford Field.

The shoulder injury is the epitome of the "He'd play in the regular season but preseason doesn't matter a bit so we'll hold him out" injury.

Two down. Two to go. We're at the halfway point of the NFL preseason. For most fans, this means we are just that much closer to seeing games that really matter.