Colts vs. Dolphins NFL injury report, Week 4 odds, spread, pick: Hobbled Carson Wentz will play, but Indianapolis could be missing 8 starters

The 1992 Chargers are the only team in NFL history to start 0-4 and make the playoffs, and that daunting trend could be facing the Indianapolis Colts by around 4 p.m. ET on Sunday as Indy is a short underdog on the NFL odds at the Miami Dolphins and could be missing a whopping eight starters due to injury – although quarterback Carson Wentz will play through his sprained ankles.

The following Colts players did not practice Thursday: All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson, fellow guard Mark Glowinski, tackle Braden Smith, tight end Jack Doyle, defensive end Kwity Paye, safety Khari Willis and cornerback Rock Ya-Sin. It was a second straight day of missed practice for everyone but Glowinski.

It sounds as if Nelson, who had two offseason surgeries and then a third in training camp, is going to miss his first game as a professional. He is the only Colts player to start every one of the team's 54 game since he was drafted in 2018. Smith has missed the last two games with a strained foot. That Indy offensive line already has been a problem with eight sacks allowed, tied for seventh-most in the NFL. Last year, Indy allowed just 21 in 16 games.

Obviously, Friday will be the determining factor for all these guys. All-Pro linebacker Darius Leonard did get a limited practice in Thursday so he should go – but he's clearly less than 100 percent with an ankle injury that has plagued him all season. We haven't even touched on No. 1 receiver TY Hilton, who is on injured reserve.

As for Wentz, he surprisingly played in Week 3 with two sprained ankles but wasn't very effective in a 25-16 loss at the Titans, completing 19 of 37 for 194 yards with no TDs. Wentz is on a personal seven-game losing streak dating to his Eagles days and is 3-11-1 straight up since start of last season and 5-10 ATS, both the worst in the league among QBs who have made at least 10 starts.

Miami will start backup QB Jacoby Brissett again with Tua Tagovailoa on injured reserve. Brissett spent 2017-20 with the Colts and was Philip Rivers' backup last year. Brissett started a total of 30 games for Indy and is 1-6 SU in his past seven starts.

The Fins, who otherwise appear healthy, are off a tough OT loss at Las Vegas last Sunday (Brissett's first start with Miami) but are 7-0 ATS in their past seven following a SU defeat. Even including a blowout Week 2 loss to Buffalo, the Fins are 11-3 ATS in their past 14 at home. 

Miami has an interesting streak going: 25 straight games with at least one takeaway, the longest active in the NFL. SportsLine oddsmakers give the Fins -200 odds to record at least one Sunday and +150 for the streak to end. The Colts have turned it over three times so far: A pick and lost fumble by Wentz and an interception by backup QB Jacob Eason.

This writer is on the Dolphins. 

Via SportsLine oddsmakers: Will the Dolphins record a takeaway for 26th straight game Sunday?

• Yes -200
• No +150

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