10 Things to watch

Two Colts items on the list

4. Are Ed Reed and Bob Sanders going to be Ed Reed and Bob Sanders this season?

Reed and Sanders, recognized around the league as two of the best all-around safeties in the game, have had their fair share of injury issues over the past two seasons. Reed, who said he was “50-50” while considering retirement this offseason, is set to miss significant time at the start of the season recovering from recent hip surgery. Reed played hurt during Baltimore’s two playoff games last season, further complicating his injury. He’s on the physically unable to perform list and has been spending a large portion of his time away from the team, seeing a rehab doctor in Atlanta. His status for the start of the regular season is still unknown. Baltimore’s secondary is the team’s one major question mark heading into the season even with Reed in the lineup. Without him? The results could be disastrous.

Sanders, on the other hand, saw his first action in 10 months during Indianapolis’ second preseason game two weeks ago in Toronto. A bit rusty, he was still a force in the secondary. On Thursday night in Green Bay, however, he looked fantastic. The 2007 Defensive Player of the Year appears to be back, having played 45 snaps in that contest and was in on just about every play. Paired with rising star Antoine Bethea, Sanders is part of the top safety duo in the NFL.