DETROIT – Detroit Red Wings defenseman Kyle Quincey won't play Saturday against Nashville at Joe Louis Arena, but isn't expected to miss much time with his left ankle injury.

“It's day-to-day right now,'' Quincey said Friday. “Just got to get it good enough, tape it up and get in the skate and go from there. The pain level is pretty high right now. Once that goes down it's good to go.''

Quincey didn't rule out playing Sunday at home against Vancouver.

He was injured at 3:48 of the second period Thursday, when Columbus forward Artem Anisimov landed on his ankle. Anisimov, inadvertently hit in the head on the play, laid motionless on the ice for several minutes and was taken off on a stretcher. He was released from the hospital on Friday.

“Kind of like a football play, when a guy lands on (someone) and the guy rolls his ankle,'' Quincey said. “Could have been a lot worse. It's not a high-ankle sprain or something like that.''

Coach Mike Babcock said Jakub Kindl will replace Quincey in the lineup. That's his only option, because Brendan Smith and Carlo Colaiacovo remain idled with shoulder injuries. Neither is due back until next week, at the earliest.

After Quincey sits out Saturday's game, Niklas Kronwall will be the only Detroit defenseman to have played in every game.

Quincey said of Anisimov's injury: “It's the worst thing you want to see happen. It's a fast game and scary things happen like that. We're all rooting for him to get better and hopefully it's not too serious.''

Franzen out until Wednesday: Babcock said Johan Franzen (hip flexor) won't be available until Wednesday's game in Los Angeles. He has missed five games.

“Playing it smart,'' Franzen said. “Its sucks being out, especially when we're losing. It hasn't been easy sitting on the side.''

Smith still not cleared for contact: Smith continues practicing hard. The next step is participating in battling drills. The earliest he will return is Wednesday, but that's not a given.

“I haven't done any contact,'' Smith said. “Just got to be careful with it. Have to have full mobility and strength. Every day it's getting better, but I just have to wait and see.''

Colaiacovo improving, but no target date: Colaiacovo, out since Jan. 21 with a sprained shoulder, continues to practice with the team but isn't sure when he'll be cleared.

“I thought I'd be in a better position at this point, but for some reason it's not,'' Colaiacovo said. "I keep pushing and working hard through it every day, just waiting for it to tell me it's ready to go. Could be any day right now. But really don't have an idea when.

"I wish I had an answer, wish I had a clear picture of it but I'm at a point right now where it's allowing me to do more. The strength is continuing to get better every day, and that's what I'm focusing on.''

Samuelsson frustrated: Mikael Samuelsson (broken left index finger) said he will start skating in a couple of days and hopes to return in two weeks.

“I'm a little frustrated, or a lot frustrated, the last couple days,'' Samuelsson said. “It shouldn't really happen, but sometimes it does. It's a bad break.''

Samuelsson missed 12 games with a pulled groin earlier this season. He has appeared in only three games.

Howard starting Saturday: Babcock said Jimmy Howard will start in goal Saturday against Nashville.

“We need a big game out of Howie tomorrow,'' Babcock said. "We need a big game out of everyone.”