Dwight Freeney Listed as Questionable for Indianapolis Colts

Colts DE Dwight Freeney was told he had an ankle sprain.

Doctors reportedly found a tear in a ligament on the outside of Freeney's ankle, creating a serious issue for the Super Bowl-contending Indianapolis Colts. Freeney led the team this season in sacks with 13.5, and this was the sixth time in 10 seasons that Freeney had recorded at least 10 sacks.

With this injury being in Freeney's right ankle, it will effect his pivot ability and take away a good portion of his speed. Freeney will likely be operating around 65-70 percent on the field, and force other players on Indy's defense to step up to apply pressure to Saints quarterback Drew Brees.

Freeney was the first player to report to Miami for the Super Bowl this week, getting with several doctors to try and help him heal quicker. Freeney has used a hyperbaric chamber in the past to heal from groin and hamstring injuries, but never an injury quite like this.

Freeney is walking around right now in a protective boot to aid with his stability, and is spending vast amounts of time in the hyperbaric chamber. The hyperbaric chamber is a device many players use to heal quickly. You can read how a hyperbaric chamber works at http://tinyurl.com/ycucl6v

There is little doubt that Freeney will be on the field this Sunday for the Super Bowl, but there needs to be a few things that have to happen before he sees a good amount of playing time. The doctors need to get the swelling down in Freeney's ankle, they need to find a way to manage the pain, and they need to find a way to protect that ankle during the game.

I look for Freeney to be more of an emotional leader on the field this Sunday rather than a playmaker. I look for linebackers Gary Bracket and Clint Session as well as Antoine Bethea and Melvin Bullitt to help apply pressure, and as usual, they still have Robert Mathis from the left side.