INDIANAPOLIS -- Cornerback Vontae Davis. Defensive lineman Kendall Langford. Defensive lineman Henry Anderson. Safety Clayton Geathers. Offensive lineman Hugh Thornton. Offensive lineman Joe Haeg. Linebacker Sio Moore.

Those are all starters or key backups for the Indianapolis Colts. They’re also players who might not be healthy when the Colts play the Detroit Lions in Week 1 on Sept. 11.

Colts coach Chuck Pagano described their roster situation as being muddy water because of the uncertainty when it comes to overall roster evaluations, talent evaluations and having a better idea who will be on the field with them against the Lions.

"You would love to have everybody healthy and everybody participating and get a true evaluation," Pagano said. "But that’s not the case. We’ll play who is available and try to play them as much as we can. Really there’s not much you can do."

The key players who have the Colts waiting are Langford, Anderson and Geathers. There’s optimism inside the facility that Langford will be back for Week 1 after having knee surgery two weeks ago. Pagano acknowledged that Anderson, who just came off the physically unable to perform list Monday, might be not ready at the start of the regular season. And barring a sudden turnaround, all indications are that Geathers will not be ready, either.

Geathers, who is projected to start at safety with veteran Mike Adams, remains in a walking boot after suffering a foot injury while working out on his own prior to the start of training camp. He’s on the non-football injury list. Pagano said they’re preparing as if Geathers won’t be ready for Week 1. Rookie T.J. Green will start at safety if Geathers isn’t ready. Geathers will have to miss the first six weeks of the season if he remains on the NFI list. The Colts hope they won't be forced to make that decision.

"For us to sit back and (Geathers is) still walking around in a boot, and not get somebody else ready, that would be foolish as well," Pagano said.