"Bob Sanders was out of the country but back in his element.

More to the point, the Indianapolis Colts' veteran safety was back on the field.

Sanders' return was one of the more significant subplots to the Colts' trip to Toronto last week to face the Buffalo Bills in a preseason game. Injuries have limited him to seven games, including the playoffs, in the past 23 months. In 2009, he played only two games while dealing with a knee injury and ruptured left biceps tendon.

Linebacker and defensive captain Gary Brackett said it was good to see Sanders "flying around. The game will come to him."

It will, but he needs more time for that to happen.

Sanders was credited with two assisted tackles, but he was unable to deliver a finishing hit on a couple of other occasions when his aggressiveness seemed to get the better of him. The NFL's 2007 Defensive Player of the Year still is finding his way.

"It's been a long time, almost two years," Sanders said Monday. "(It's) just not being out there. The feel, the reads, stuff like that.

"To me, I felt like I did OK, but I can be sharper."

The next opportunity to grind off the rough edges comes Thursday night when the Colts meet the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.

Sanders was on the field for approximately 15 plays against the Bills and was asked to do a little bit of everything.

Much of the time, he lagged back at deep safety in cover-2. Once, he blitzed. Another time, he crept toward the line and faked a blitz before dropping back.

"You can see that obviously he still has the speed and power that he's always had and looks good," coach Jim Caldwell said. "He's anxious to get out there and play. But just like anything else, first time out you may not set the world on fire.

"But I do think he certainly got a good feel for what he has to do and hopefully (Thursday) we'll get him a few more plays and get him comfortable."

Sanders' tackle total could have been higher had he not overrun a few plays. That inefficiency should diminish the more he plays."