Colts, Titans battling key injuries ahead of divisional clash

Who's in and who's out? That might determine the outcome of Sunday's game when the Indianapolis Colts travel to Nashville, Tenn., for an AFC South clash with the Tennessee Titans. Indianapolis (2-3) played without quarterback Anthony Richardson (oblique) and running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle) in last week's 37-34 loss at previously winless Jacksonville, although backup signal-caller Joe Flacco did his part in the game with 359 yards through the air. Tennessee (1-3) is coming off its bye week after giving first-year coach Brian Callahan his first win with a 31-12 victory at the Miami Dolphins on "Monday Night Football" Sept. 30. The Titans won that night without star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (elbow) and lost quarterback Will Levis (shoulder) in the first quarter. Help is on the way against the Colts. Callahan said Friday that Simmons is expected to play and Levis will start. "(Levis) took every rep and made every throw in practice well," Callahan said. "It hasn't affected his practice or him throwing." Safety Jamal Adams (hip) and defensive lineman Keondre Coleman (knee) have been ruled out for the game. Tennessee's defense has been a bright spot amid the team's slow start. It leads the league in total defense (243.8 yards allowed per game) and pass defense (124.0 yards per game), while ranking tied for 15th against the run (119.8 yards per game). Indianapolis will play its second straight game without Taylor. Head coach Shane Steichen announced Friday that the ankle injury Taylor sustained in the Colts' 27-24 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 29 will keep him out again. Taylor has run for 349 yards and four touchdowns across four games this season. With him out against Jacksonville last Sunday, the Colts tried just 20 running plays on 65 offensive snaps. Steichen, however, noted quarterback Richardson will be listed as questionable and his availability will be a game-time decision. However, Richardson is optimistic that he can return to action. "Way better, compared to last week," Richardson said earlier this week of his status. "I was able to move a little bit. I'm able to get going, start running, throwing. Feeling good about that. I can do the stuff I need to do in the offense." Whichever quarterback starts against the Titans -- Richardson or Flacco -- will be down a key target. ESPN reported Wednesday that top receiver Michael Pittman Jr. is expected to miss multiple weeks with a back injury. Pittman has 22 receptions for 238 yards and one touchdown in five games this season. Fellow receiver Josh Downs (toe) also is questionable for Sunday after missing Wednesday's practice. Whether Indianapolis' defense can offer any resistance remains to be seen. The Colts rank last in total defense (419.2 yards allowed per game), next-to-last against the run (157.0 yards per game) and 29th of 32 teams against the pass (262.2 yards per game). Jacksonville carved Indianapolis up for 497 total yards last week, including 371 through the air. The Colts hold a 37-21 lead in their regular-season series against Tennessee, winning both matchups last year. --Field Level Media