Buffalo Bills at Indianapolis Colts

Sunday, August 24, 2008

*Sorgi sits, Colts offense sputters in loss to Bills*

INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- It was Jared Lorenzen, not Jim Sorgi, that christened the Indianapolis Colts' new home.

Lorenzen got a surprise start in place of Sorgi, but the Colts' offense sputtered again in a 20-7 preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.

With Peyton Manning recovering from knee surgery, Sorgi started the first three preseason games but failed to lead the first-team offense into the end zone. It is unclear if Manning will be ready for the season opener against the Chicago Bears on September 7.

And now Indianapolis has to wonder about his backup. Sorgi apparently dinged his knee in practice this week and was held out as a precaution.

The fans may have been comfortable in the plush $720 million new stadium that features a retractable roof, but they did not have much for which to cheer.

Lorenzen completed 7-of-11 passes for 52 yards but failed to get the offense in a rhythm. Meanwhile, J.P. Losman started for Buffalo in place of the injured Trent Edwards and went 13-of-19 for 108 yards, leading the Bills on a pair of scoring drives.

Rian Lindell booted a 36-yard field goal with 2:31 remaining in the first quarter and Xavier Omon capped a 93-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run with five minutes left in the second. Buffalo took a 17-0 lead when Terrence McGee returned Joseph Addai's fumble 68 yards for a score with 1:43 left in the half.

Indianapolis finally got on the board with 2:54 to go in the third, when third-string quarterback Quinn Gray hit Devin Aromashodu for a 94-yard TD after Buffalo's top draft pick, Leodis McKelvin, mistimed his jump. Gray completed 8-of-16 passes for 158 yards but threw four interceptions.

The Colts lost starting center Jeff Saturday in the third quarter to a knee injury. Saturday walked off under his own power but did not return.