Notes From Jim Caldwell: Melvin Bullitt Injured

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="340" caption="Melvin Bullitt hasn't been very good so far this season, but do the Colts have a good replacement?"]Bullitt[/caption] According to Phil B Wilson of the Indy Star, head coach Jim Caldwell is being talkative again this week. Wilson tweeted out a pile of information from the Colts' coach today, the most telling being that Melvin Bullitt has an undisclosed injury.

More from #Colts' Caldwell, he says S Melvin Bullitt has "an issue he's dealing with," so they signed Stevie Brown. Don't know Mel's injury. Caldwell said it would be on injury report later on.

Now, it's unclear whether Brown, who's signing was announced yesterday, would be starting in Bullitt's place come Sunday, or if he's merely depth at a weak safety position. Wilson also had some other news from Caldwell:

• Jeff Linkenbach's spot at right tackle isn't being adjusted right now. Rookie Benjamin Ijalana is progressing, but isn't expected to start anytime soon.
• Caldwell admits he hasn't been doing a good job, "I think that's obvious."
• Gary Brackett and Ryan Diem are both uncertain for Sunday's game against the Steelers. Mike Pollak would start in Diem's place, while Brackett would again be spotted by Pat Angerer.
• Peyton Manning was at practice, walking laps again.
• RB Darren Evans was indeed moved to the practice squad, as we hypothesized yesterday.

As I said before, it's nice to see Caldwell owning up to the last two games, but there are steps he can take to improve the team, or at least attempt to. Among those steps are allowing offensive lineman Benjamin Ijalana to start, in my opinion. The rookie is not going to develop by sitting on the bench. Jeff Linkenbach has been awful thus far, and I can't imagine that the drop off to Ijalana would be significant in pass blocking, and the run blocking would be much improved. Even if Ijalana is not ready for the tackle spot, I'd love to see him get reps in Ryan Diem's place if he can't go.