Pro Football weekly

The Colts have put linebacker Gary Brackett and safety Melvin Bullitt on injured reserve, ending the season for two of Indianapolis' defensive starters.||||||| Brackett, the defensive captain, hurt his shoulder in the season-opener and missed the last two games. He has already had surgery. Bullitt missed most of last season with a shoulder injury, was re-injured in Week 2 and sat out last week. He is scheduled for surgery this week.

Brackett is inactive for Sunday's game against Cleveland.||||||| Brackett is out because of a left shoulder injury.

The NFL fined Brackett $35,000 Friday for his hit on Tennessee Titans long snapper Ken Amato in last Sunday's game.||||||| Brackett was called for an illegal blindside block on Amato as the linebacker ran toward the Colts' goal line and hit the long snapper from the side in springing Antoine Bethea for a return off a missed field goal. Brackett has now been fined three times this season for illegal hits.

Brackett will almost certainly get fined after making helmet-to-helmet contact with a Tennessee player Sunday.||||||| The Colts are hoping their defensive captain doesn't get suspended. Brackett has been fined twice this season for illegal hits, and some believe a third such penalty could include a suspension. League officials have not yet suspended any players for illegal hits. If Brackett were to be the first, coach Jim Caldwell says the Colts would appeal.