Indianapolis Colts WR Reggie Wayne (Phil Coale/AP Photo)
Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell knew the question everyone wanted answered early Monday afternoon.
He answered part of it. The rest may have to wait a while.
Six days, even.
Caldwell, who a week ago said health would be the lone issue determining playing status against Jacksonville, stopped short of such a declaration Monday, and left unanswered the question of just who will play and for how long for the NFL's lone unbeaten team Sunday.
“I can tell you our preparation is going to be the same,” Caldwell said Monday as the AFC South champion Colts (14-0) prepared to play the New York Jets (7-7) at Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis Sunday at 4 p.m.
“I’m not going to know exactly where we are from a health standpoint probably until the end of the week. . . . Our guys will have an opportunity to get a real good look at them and finalize some of the situations, just in terms of overall health.
“We’ll have an idea of what to expect and how to utilize them come game time.”
The Colts, who last Thursday extended their NFL-record regular-season winning streak to 23 games, two weeks ago clinched the AFC's No. 1 seed and the accompanying advantage of playing at home for as long as they stay in the playoffs.
But with that seeding clinched came another question:
Play starters in the remaining games, or rest players to prepare for the playoffs?
In the days leading to a 35-31 victory over Jacksonville Thursday, Caldwell said the Colts would play all healthy players, which the team did. DE Dwight Freeney, DE Robert Mathis, OT Charlie Johnson and DT Eric Foster also played despite missing time during the week with injuries.
On Monday, Caldwell said he couldn't yet say for certain how long healthy players would play Sunday.
“I wouldn't know exactly what it's going to be, if a guy is going to play a few series or the entire game,” he said. “I couldn't tell you. We'll look at every situation the same. For a guy to be excluded from the game, it will be a health issue. That's kind of what we're looking at.”
The number of unbeatens dwindled to one Saturday when the previously unbeaten New Orleans Saints (13-1) lost to the Dallas Cowboys, 24-17.
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