"The Indianapolis Colts' running back situation is still unsettled despite rest from a bye weekend off.

Coach Jim Caldwell said today that he didn't expect starter Joseph Addai to practice this afternoon due to a shoulder injury and backup Donald Brown, if he does any work, would participate on a limited basis.

Addai hurt his left shoulder in the fourth quarter of the Colts' 27-24 win at Washington Oct. 17. It's the second consecutive game the team's leading rusher has exited early with a shoulder injury. Addai has 406 yards on 93 carries and three TDs.

"I do not anticipate Joseph practicing at all (today)," Caldwell said, "and Donald is questionable. If he does, it will be limited work."

Brown has been out the last three games with a hamstring injury. The second-year pro, drafted in the first round in 2009, has said as recently as two weeks ago that he was optimistic about his return.

But he did not participate in locker-room interviews today, which casts more doubt about his availability for Monday night's AFC South showdown with Houston at Lucas Oil Stadium.

"I know, often times, you guys probably look at me like, 'Hey, why don't you give us a little bit more in this regard, but I think you know how I feel about the injury report," Caldwell said. "The main reason is because I don't want to give you any misleading information.

"If you would have asked me to tell you exactly what I thought about Mike Hart a couple weeks ago, I would have been totally off base and you would have said, 'You know what, that guy misled us.' The fact of the matter is, he made such an unbelievable turnaround."

Hart, despite missing most of the practices before an Oct. 10 home game against Kansas City, scored a clinching TD on an 11-yard run in a 19-9 win. Caldwell alluded to Hart's readiness if Addai and Brown can't play. Hart has 93 yards on 26 carries."