NFL Preview: Bolts, Colts on Sunday Night Football

San Diego Chargers (5-5) at Indianapolis Colts (6-4)

Chargers Notes:

— Still no definitive word on whether or not All-Pro TE Antonio Gates will suit up this weekend. The Chargers’ tight end has missed the last two games in an attempt to rest and rehab a torn plantar fascia in his foot that is not healing as quickly as he had hoped. Gates is hoping to get in at least one practice this week, which would be his first practice since October 29th, if you can believe it.

— WR Vincent Jackson, the team’s leading receiver from a year ago, will make his 2010 debut this Sunday. Jackson, an Pro Bowl selection last season, comes back to the team just in the nick of time — injuries have hit the Chargers WR corps hard lately and the team could be without Patrick Crayton, Legedu Naanee and Malcom Floyd this Sunday.

Colts Notes:

— RB Joseph Addai (neck) saw limited work during Wednesday’s practice. He will progress to practice this week for conditioning purposes.If he can’t go, expect backup RB Donald Brown to get a yeoman’s share of the work against a Chargers’ run defence that isn’t that big up front.

— WR Austin Collie (concussion) left the New England game in the second quarter and did not return. Collie’s status is rather unclear; he suffered a serious concussion against the Eagles back in early November but had cleared his field tests and returned to the Colts lineup sooner than most expected. His return, however, was cut pretty short. He still might be dealing with post-concussion symptoms and if so, probably won’t play on Sunday night.

Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3) at Buffalo Bills (2-8)

Steelers Notes:

— RT Flozell Adams has quietly done a great job of filling in for the injured Willie Colon. Adams was a training camp cut by the Dallas Cowboys and quickly snagged by the Steelers, who have had major line issues all season long. In addition to Colon, the Steelers lost LT Max Starks a few weeks ago and have had trouble protecting QB Ben Roethlisberger (and establishing running lanes) ever since.

Bills Notes:

— Rookie RB C.J. Spiller still hasn’t practiced this week (hamstring) and his participation in Sunday’s contest remains up in the air. He’s got an “outside chance” at facing the Steelers but all signs point to veteran running back Fred Jackson — who has been very good in recent weeks — carrying the load.