Published: November 21, 2009 12:09 am         

Bethea wants to shake off injury to play Sunday

INDIANAPOLIS — Injured Indianapolis Colts free safety Antoine Bethea wants to play Sunday when the Indianapolis Colts take on the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium.

“I’m going to play [against the Ravens],” Bethea voiced after Friday’s workout. He has missed a couple of practices this week with an unspecified foot injury but was able to get in some limited work on Friday.

When asked if he was talking like a guy who wanted to play or was expecting to play, his response shouldn’t have come as a surprise. He is officially listed as questionable.

“I’m talking like a guy who is going to play on Sunday,” he said. If Bethea can’t go this week, Jamie Silva would most likely be teamed in the Colts’ secondary with starter Melvin Bullitt.

Neither Bethea or defensive tackle Eric Foster (back) practiced Wednesday or Thursday. Foster, though, went through a full workout on Friday. He is also listed as questionable. Rookie Fili Moala could be in store for additional work against the Ravens.

Also questionable are defensive end Dwight Freeney (hip), wide receiver Pierre Garcon (ankle), tight end Gijon Robinson (concussion) and quarterback Jim Sorgi (right shoulder). Wide receivers Hank Baskett, who sat out Wednesday with an illness, and Austin Collie (missed Thursday due to personal business) both practiced and are expected to play. Baskett is probable.

Freeney, Garcon and tight end Justin Snow (elbow) all went through a full practice routine on Friday. Snow is listed as probable for the Baltimore game. Robinson did not practice this week. Offensive tackle Tony Ugoh sat out Friday to rest old injuries but will be available to play this week.

Offensive tackle Dan Federkeil (concussion) and safety Aaron Francisco (ankle) did not take part in Friday’s practice and will not play on Sunday. Wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez (knee), cornerback Kelvin Hayden (knee) and placekicker Adam Vinatieri (knee) are also sidelined this week.

• Harbaugh proud of his brother — Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh took a few minutes earlier this week to talk about his brother, former Indianapolis quarterback Jim Harbaugh. Jim is now the head coach at Stanford and is coming off a big win over Southern California.

“I couldn’t be more proud of him. He’s a great coach. What he’s done there, to take that program and basically transform it completely, in terms of how they feel about themselves and the way they play,” he said. “Basically, to turn the tables on the Pac-10, in the sense that Stanford is now the most physical, probably the most physical offense, for sure, in the Pac-10. They’re starting to play that kind of defense the last couple of weeks, too.

“I just think he’s done a great job. He’s happy there. It’s pretty neat. He talks fondly about his NFL career about his days with the Colts. I know being in the Ring of Honor there [at Lucas Oil Stadium], it’s probably his most cherished accomplishment in athletics, his time with the Colts.”

It’s an athletically minded family. Their father, Jack, used to be the head coach at Western Kentucky. And their brother-in-law, Tom Crean, is the men’s basketball coach at Indiana University. John Harbaugh, though, was asked if his brother could eventually end up as a head coach in the NFL as well at some point.

“I have no idea. I think he’s really happy [at Stanford]. I think he’d be a great NFL head coach and, believe me, I grill him on the same thing. He always says the same thing, that he’s really happy at Stanford and he loves what he’s doing,” Harbaugh said.