"Once again, the Indianapolis Colts face the prospect of life without safety Bob Sanders, however briefly.

The only question is when the two-time Pro Bowl selection and 2007 NFL Defensive Player of the Year will be cleared to join practice, then get up to game speed.

"Right now, we really don't know," Sanders said Wednesday in his first meeting with the media since the start of training camp Aug. 2. "I'm not going to get into details about whether I'm playing, whether I'm practicing or not.

"As soon as it happens, you guys will be the first ones to know."

Sanders is still rehabilitating his right knee following offseason surgery and did not practice Wednesday. So, again, the Colts will move on without one of their defensive cornerstones.

Out goes Sanders, in comes Melvin Bullitt.

When surgery on his right knee forced Sanders to miss 10 starts last season, Bullitt filled the void. He led the team with four interceptions.

Three came in the final seconds that sealed wins over Houston (twice) and Pittsburgh.

Bullitt didn't simply play. He played well.

"It's always great to have a backup or someone who can come right in and pick up the slack, and Melvin has done a tremendous job at that," Sanders said.

Coach Jim Caldwell was stoic when asked about the likelihood of Bullitt, not Sanders, being his starting strong safety in Sunday's season opener against Jacksonville at Lucas Oil Stadium. It will be the first time since Sanders' rookie season in 2004 that he has missed a season opener.

"You know how this game is," Caldwell said.

"You're going to face an injury. You're going to face some adversity. We just have to be well-prepared and willing to say, 'Next man up.' "

And Sanders' prognosis?

"We're going to continue to just try to work with him and increase his activity and see where that ends here in the next few weeks or so," Caldwell said.

Sanders insisted he's encouraged with his rehab and the fact he has experienced no setbacks. His spirits seem high.

"I've been through this, as you guys know, several times, so I'm used to it," he said."