Newz Forum: FOOTBALL: Vanderjagt feeling better but Colts still looking for kicker

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) If Mike Vanderjagt can't kick Sunday against Oakland, the Indianapolis Colts now have a backup plan.

Vanderjagt is listed as questionable with a strained right hamstring, so the Colts worked out kicker Matt Bryant on Wednesday. He has not yet signed.

When asked if Bryant would be used, Colts coach Tony Dungy said: "He or someone. We'll keep our eyes open. If it comes down to it, we can sign someone Thursday or Friday, probably Friday."

The Colts, however, may not have a definitive answer on Vanderjagt until then.

Vanderjagt said Wednesday he has received treatment for his hamstring three times and that he was feeling better. He was hurt on a 46-yard field goal that gave Indianapolis a 10-0 lead late in the first half last week at Jacksonville.

He didn't practice Wednesday and said he may not even try until Friday.

Vanderjagt said his hamstring was so painful Tuesday that he struggled getting out of bed, a chair and a car. He said it felt better Wednesday and Vanderjagt appeared upbeat about his chances of playing.

"I don't want to miss. I have no desire to sit out," he said. "Probably the smart thing is not to play Sunday, but I would much rather play injured than not play at all."

Bryant was released by the Dallas Cowboys during the final cutdown Sept. 5 after missing the last two exhibition games with a slight groin injury. He made 11 of 14 field goals and all 17 of his extra points last season with the New York Giants but missed five games with a hamstring injury.

In 2002, he was 26-of-32 on field goals and 30-of-32 on extra points.

"I think he's a good kicker," Vanderjagt said. "He apparently had the job in Dallas and then got re-injured, so he's certainly worthy of playing in the NFL. He's just trying to wait for a job."

Vanderjagt is tied with Dean Biasucci as the Colts' career scoring leader with 783 points. He also made 87.7 percent of his field goal attempts, the highest in NFL history.