INDIANAPOLIS —
The Indianapolis Colts are not used to starting a season with an 0-4 record.  At least not these Colts. But that’s where they stand heading into Sunday’s home game with the Kansas City Chiefs ( 1 p.m., Lucas Oil Stadium).

The mood in the locker room, though, is not one of panic. Frustration, perhaps, but certainly not panic.

“The feeling in the locker room being 0-4 is obviously different. Does it mean the season is over? No. It’s definitely not a great feeling and I think that’s obvious,” defensive end Dwight Freeney was quick to point out Wednesday.

“We’re going to go out there and each week take that next step and win a game. And after that try to win another game. It doesn’t relax.”

 The Colts have dropped their last two games to Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay by a combined 10 points (23-20 against the Steelers and 24-17 to the Buccaneers).

And it won’t get any easier against Kansas City even if the Chiefs are 1-3 after last week’s 22-17 win over Minnesota.

“Obviously, from a record standpoint they are struggling. [But] they have a lot of the same guys they had last year that made the playoffs,” Freeney said.

“We’re not worried about what their record is. It doesn’t matter to us. All we know is that they are our next opponent and we have to win. If we can get that, we’ll move on to our next one.”

 While the Chiefs game is important, the pressure on the team to win isn’t greater than any other matchup – at least from inside the locker room.

“I don’t think the pressure changes. Maybe from the outside looking in, you think the pressure is on,” he said. “We already have enough pressure on us. We go out there every game trying to make every play. That doesn’t change.”

 Placekicker Adam Vinatieri maintains that the Colts aren’t that far from turning their season around.

“You don’t have to revamp everything. You just have to play a little bit better,” Vinatieri said before the start of Wednesday’s practice. “There’s two or three plays in a course of a game that make the difference in the outcome. And you never know when those two or three plays are going to be.

“Maybe it’s one play. But we just have to be able to perform. And when that one play – or those two or three plays come up – we’ve got to be on the right side of that margin. And that makes the difference.”

• Roster moves – There were a bunch on Wednesday. First, the Colts placed rookie offensive tackle Ben Ijalana (knee) and veteran defensive tackle Eric Foster (ankle/foot) on injured reserve. Ijalana and Foster, who were both hurt in Monday night’s loss to the Buccaneers, are both done for the remainder of the season.

Backup linebacker Nate Triplett was waived and Indianapolis brought back offensive tackle Michael Toudouze to the active roster. Former Atlanta and New England offensive tackle Quinn Ojinnaka was also signed to the active roster.

Defensive tackle Ricardo Mathews, a seventh-round pick by Indianapolis last year, was signed to the Colts’ active roster. Mathews had been on the team’s practice squad after playing in eight games as a rookie in 2010.

Toudouze was a fifth-round pick by the Colts in 2006 and has been on and off the team’s roster three times since then. He spent his rookie season on practice squad and was on the active roster from 2007-10. Ojinnaka, meanwhile, was drafted by the Falcons, where he played from 2006 to 2009. He played in eight games with the Patriots last season.

On Monday, prior to the Tampa Bay game, Indianapolis waived safety Jermale Hines and signed offensive tackle Mike Tepper from the team’s practice squad. Hines has seen been claimed off waivers by Carolina.

Cornerback Justin Tryon, who was waived last week, signed with the New York Giants on Tuesday.

• Thomas suspended by the NFL – Offensive tackle Jaimie Thomas was suspended for four games by the league for violation of the anabolic steroid and related substances policy.

Thomas was a seventh-round pick by the Colts in 2009. He played in eight games with the team last season. Thomas was placed on injured reserve with a back injury on Aug. 19.

• Injury list – Sitting out Wednesday’s practice were OG Ryan Diem (ankle), DE Dwight Freeney (abdominal), DT Fili Moala (ankle) and rookie DT Drake Nevis (back).

Seeing limited practice time were QB Kerry Collins (concussion) and LB Ernie Sims (knee). Taking part in full practice were TE Brody Eldridge (knee), OG Mike Pollak (arm) and OG Joe Reitz (ankle).

Indianapolis—

The Indianapolis Colts today placed offensive guard Ben Ijalana and defensive tackle Eric Foster on Injured Reserve, waived linebacker Nate Triplett, signed offensive tackles Michael Toudouze and Quinn Ojinnaka to the active roster and elevated defensive tackle Ricardo Mathews from the practice squad to the active roster. Offensive guard Jaimie Thomas, who is currently on Injured Reserve, was suspended by the NFL for four games due to violation of the anabolic steroid and related substances policy.

Toudouze, 6-6, 303 pounds, was originally selected by the Colts in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. After spending his rookie season on the practice squad, the San Antonio, Texas native competed in seven games (one start) from 2007-10. Toudouze saw action in four games in 2007 and made his first career NFL start at Buffalo in 2009.

Ojinnaka, 6-5, 295 pounds, is in his sixth NFL season after spending his first four years with the Atlanta Falcons and last season with the New England Patriots. From 2006-09 with the Falcons, he saw action in 39 games (12 starts) and was part of an offensive line that allowed only 17 sacks in 2008, which ranked fifth in the NFL. Last season, Ojinnaka competed in eight games for the Patriots.

Mathews, 6-3, 294 pounds, spent the first four weeks of the season on the Indianapolis practice squad. He was one of the Colts’ three seventh round selections in the 2010 NFL Draft and competed in eight games last season as a reserve defensive tackle, finishing with one stop.

Ijalana was the team’s second round selection in this year’s draft. He saw action in the first four contests this season with the majority of time coming on special teams. Ijalana replaced Anthony Castonzo at left tackle against Tampa Bay in Week 4, but left the contest due to a knee injury.

Foster competed in the first four games of the season, making three starts at defensive tackle. He recorded 12 tackles (six solo), which included six stops in the season opener at Houston. In a Week 4 match-up at Tampa Bay, Foster left the game with a dislocated ankle.
Thomas was originally a seventh round selection by the Colts in the 2009 NFL Draft and competed in eight games with Indianapolis in 2010. He was placed on Injured Reserve with a back injury on August 19, 2011.

On Monday, October 3, Indianapolis waived defensive back Jermale Hines and elevated offensive tackle Mike Tepper from the practice squad to the active roster. Tepper saw action in Colts’ Monday Night Football contest against Tampa Bay. Hines was recently claimed by the Carolina Panthers off waivers.

ST. LOUIS —
Evaluation will be the primary objective tonight when the Indianapolis Colts kick off the 2011 National Football League preseason schedule against the St. Louis Rams.

 Game time is set for 8 p.m. at the Edward Jones Dome. The game will be televised on WNDY in Indianapolis — also on WTHI-TV  10 in Terre Haute — and replayed later on the NFL Network.

While Coach Jim Caldwell and his coaching staff spent Friday putting their final plans in place, the Colts are expected to utilize rookies and veteran backup players most of the evening. The first offensive and defensive units aren’t slated to see more than one or two series before retiring to the sidelines.

“I think the game will give us a good indication of where we are [after the second week of training camp]. Often times you have to come back [to camp] and retool and regroup,” Caldwell said earlier this week.

 “But [the first preseason game] gives you a pretty good assessment and that’s what I think this first game will do for us. It will assess where we are and also give some of the younger guys a real taste of what the National Football League is really about.”

Depending on their position and the team’s depth situation, some veterans could see more playing time than others.

“It just depends. Every individual is a little bit different. Everybody is different. There is no blanket statement across the board,” the Colts coach said, adding that its probably time for his team to test themselves against other people.

“They would like to face another opponent other than their own teammates and they are going to get that opportunity obviously on Saturday. But that’s a good thing for both squads. We will both get a chance to really test where we are.”

One thing is certain. With no organized team activities and minicamps this past summer, due to the labor lockout, the Colts’ four preseason games take on a whole different level of importance.

“We have to give [the rookies and new players] a fair shot evaluation. We just have a little less time to do it. But everyone is going to get an opportunity,” Caldwell explained.,

“You get an opportunity every day when you are out there on the practice field. You certainly get an opportunity during preseason games. Not everyone will play an equal amount in every single game, but I think after it’s all said and done we’ll get a good look at everybody.”

• Manning traveling? — Quarterback Peyton Manning might be given the green light to make the trip. But there hasn’t been any official word as to his plans for this weekend.

“It remains to be seen. If [team medical and athletic training personnel] think it’s better for him to stay [home] he will stay [home]. If not he will go, it just depends on his rehab schedule,” Caldwell said.

• Watch to watch for — Curtis Painter and Dan Orlovsky will probably get the bulk of the work at quarterback against the Rams, although Nate Davis and undrafted rookie Mike Hartline may get on the field during the third and fourth quarters.

And while placekicker Adam Vinatieri will be available and may see limited playing time, punters Pat McAfee and undrafted rookie Travis Baltz should get opportunities to placekick. McAfee has displayed a strong leg in training camp, hitting field goal attempts from 65 and 70 yards.

Running backs Javarris James, Devin Moore, along with undrafted rookies Darren Evans and Chad Spann, will play. Joseph Addai may see some work, but Donald Brown and rookie Delone Carter should see extended action.

• Hughes vs. Saffold — One interesting sidelight will be a possible matchup of Colts second-year defensive end Jerry Hughes against former Indiana University offensive tackle Rodger Saffold.

Indianapolis opted to draft Hughes ahead of Saffold a year ago. Not taking an offensive tackle in 2010 made it a imperative to add two offensive tackles this year, first-round pick Anthony Castonzo and second-rounder Ben Ijalana.

Castonzo and Ijalana will work with the Colts’ No. 2 offensive line group, along with undrafted rookie center Jake Kirkpatrick.

• Injury list — Sitting out Friday morning’s practice were WR Joe Horn (back), OG Jamey Richard (calf), LB Ernie Sims (appendectomy), DT Fili Moala (foot), OG Jaimie Thomas (back), DE Jamaal Anderson (groin), DE Dwight Freeney (rest), DT DeMario Pressley (hamstring), TE Brody Eldridge (knee).

CB Jacob Lacey (Achilles) and LB Cody Glenn (neck) practiced for the second straight day. Lacey was hurt in Tuesday’s practice and has seen limited work since. He is expected to start against the Rams. Glenn’s neck issue dates back to last season.

ST. LOUIS —
Evaluation will be the primary objective tonight when the Indianapolis Colts kick off their National Football League preseason schedule against the St. Louis Rams.

Game time is set for 8 p.m. at the Edward Jones Dome. The game will be televised on WNDY in Indianapolis and replayed later on the NFL Network.

While Coach Jim Caldwell and his coaching staff spent Friday putting their final plans in place, the Colts are expected to utilize rookies and veteran backup players most of the evening. The first offensive and defensive units aren’t slated to see more than one or two series before retiring to the sidelines.

“I think the game will give us a good indication of where we are [after the second week of training camp]. Often times you have to come back (to camp) and retool and regroup,” Caldwell said earlier this week.

“But (the first preseason game) gives you a pretty good assessment and that’s what I think this first game will do for us. It will assess where we are and also give some of the younger guys a real taste of what the National Football League is really about.”

Depending on their position and the team’s depth situation, some veterans could see more playing time than others.

“It just depends. Every individual is a little bit different. Everybody is different. There is no blanket statement across the board,” the Colts coach said, adding that its probably time for his team to test itself against another team.

“They would like to face another opponent other than their own teammates and they are going to get that opportunity obviously on Saturday. But that’s a good thing for both squads. We will both get a chance to really test where we are.”

One thing is certain. With no organized team activities and minicamps this past summer, due to the labor lockout, the Colts’ four preseason games take on a whole different level of importance.

“We have to give (the rookies and new players) a fair shot evaluation. We just have a little less time to do it. But everyone is going to get an opportunity,” Caldwell explained. “You get an opportunity every day when you are out there on the practice field. You certainly get an opportunity during preseason games. Not everyone will play an equal amount in every single game, but I think after it’s all said and done we’ll get a good look at everybody.”

Watch to watch for — Curtis Painter and Dan Orlovsky will probably get the bulk of the work at quarterback against the Rams, although Nate Davis and undrafted rookie Mike Hartline may get on the field during the third and fourth quarters.

And while placekicker Adam Vinatieri will be available and may see limited playing time, punters Pat McAfee and undrafted rookie Travis Baltz should get opportunities to placekick. McAfee has displayed a strong leg in training camp, hitting field goal attempts from 65 and 70 yards.

Running backs Javarris James, Devin Moore, along with undrafted rookies Darren Evans and Chad Spann, will play. Joseph Addai may see some work, but Donald Brown and rookie Delone Carter should see extended action.

Hughes vs. Saffold — One interesting sidelight will be a possible matchup of Colts second-year defensive end Jerry Hughes against former Indiana University offensive tackle Rodger Saffold.

Indianapolis opted to draft Hughes ahead of Saffold a year ago. Not taking an offensive tackle in 2010 made it a imperative to add two offensive tackles this year, first-round pick Anthony Castonzo and second-rounder Ben Ijalana.

Castonzo and Ijalana will work with the Colts’ No. 2 offensive line group, along with undrafted rookie center Jake Kirkpatrick.

Injury list — Sitting out Friday morning’s practice were WR Joe Horn (back), OG Jamey Richard (calf), LB Ernie Sims (appendectomy), DT Fili Moala (foot), OG Jaimie Thomas (back), DE Jamaal Anderson (groin), DE Dwight Freeney (rest), DT DeMario Pressley (hamstring), TE Brody Eldridge (knee).

CB Jacob Lacey (Achilles) and LB Cody Glenn (neck) practiced for the second straight day. Lacey was hurt in Tuesday’s practice and has seen limited work since. He is expected to start against the Rams. Glenn’s neck issue dates back to last season.