"The effectiveness, even the availability, of defensive end Dwight Freeney for Super Bowl XLIV because of an ankle injury likely will cause angst among the Indianapolis Colts and has injected an unexpected story line into the days leading up to the NFL's championship game Sunday.

A Colts' spokesman said the team's career sack leader suffered "a third-degree, low basketball ankle sprain'' in their Jan. 24 AFC Championship Game victory over the New York Jets.

"We expect him to be questionable for the Super Bowl,'' Craig Kelley said Sunday night.

In an interview with NFL Network at Sunday night's Pro Bowl at Sun Life Stadium, Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne said, "Dwight told me he'll be ready.''"