James

INDIANAPOLIS -- Nobody at the Indianapolis Colts is saying Edgerrin James won't play Sunday. Nobody's saying he will, either.

James, the NFL's two-time rushing champion, missed his second straight practice Wednesday and remains questionable for Sunday's game at Buffalo because of a sprained left knee.

"We've ordered a new leg and it should be here by Friday," he joked Wednesday in a statement.

James has not been available for interviews this week because he's been undergoing treatment for the injury following practice.

While James has tried to make light of the situation through statements, his teammates and coaches are hoping for the best.

"He wants to be there so bad," quarterback Peyton Manning said. "Everyone talks about the first game, but Monday was the first practice he'd missed and that's not something that went unnoticed by me."

Or anyone else.

For the second time this week, James watched practice in a pair of blue sweat pants and a white hooded sweatshirt.

What he saw was backup Dominic Rhodes, who scored on a 77-yard TD run and an 88-yard kickoff return in the Colts victory at Kansas City, preparing to take his place.

Rhodes said Wednesday he is working as if he will start -- or at least see significant action -- in place of James.

"I think it's going to be a game time decision, but I'm just taking it as if I'm going to start and play a lot," said Rhodes, whose teammates have taken to calling him "Li'l E.J." this week.

"All he's told me is to go out and play my game."