"Neither star defensive end Dwight Freeney nor starting cornerback Jerraud Powers attended the Indianapolis Colts' practice Wednesday for Super Bowl XLIV, according to a pool report from the Pro Football Writers Association.

Freeney, who suffered a severe low ankle sprain against the visiting New York Jets in the AFC championship game Jan. 24, and Powers, who was scratched from that game with a foot injury, were not at the Miami Dolphins' facility where the Colts worked out. The team is practicing in shells and will refrain from full contact drills all week, according to the report.

On Thursday morning, Freeney appeared at the Colts' media event at their hotel, this time wearing a pressurized black sock/bandage on his right ankle. In previous appearances, Freeney had been in flip-flops -- and there was no visible sign of swelling.

But Freeney said he hadn't tweaked the ankle again, that the high-tech wrap was simply another on the long list of treatment options he has pursued, like acupuncture and a hyperbaric chamber. He has not yet attempted any serious sprint or spin moves to see if the ankle will hold or buckle, and he probably won't have a solid read on that until today or Saturday.

"You don't want to go too hard too fast," Freeney said.

Still, there is a growing consensus that Freeney will suit up and play against the Saints at Sun Life Stadium on Sunday.

Indianapolis Coach Jim Caldwell said the decision to practice without pads this week was his."