Hasselbeck suffers neck injury; status uncertain

Show Caption Hide Caption Pagano, Hasselbeck on Colts' loss to Steelers Colts head coach Chuck Pagano and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck discuss Indianapolis' loss to the Steelers Sunday night.

Now, the Indianapolis Colts could be down two quarterbacks.

Matt Hasselbeck was pulled late in Sunday’s lopsided 45-10 loss in Pittsburgh after injuring his neck on two separate plays. According to Hasselbeck, he isn’t sure if he’ll be able to play next Sunday when the team faces the Jaguars in Jacksonville.

“I don’t know about that yet,” he said. “I would hope that I could.”

Hasselbeck later added that, if he had to, he believes he could’ve finished Sunday's game.

“Chuck pulled me,” he said. “His decision. Don’t know what all went into that decision. I didn’t get carted off the field.”

Hasselbeck said he hurt his neck on one first-quarter play and one third-quarter play. After the second hit, he remained on the field for several seconds, in obvious pain. He returned after both hits, but was subbed out for third-stringer Charlie Whitehurst with six minutes left and the game well out of reach. Hasselbeck, the league’s oldest quarterback, underwent X-rays after the game and admitted to being in “a little bit of pain.”

Coach Chuck Pagano said Hasselbeck will be evaluated further on Monday, adding, “He should be OK.”

Hasselbeck seemed less sure.

“I did not hurt my knee,” he said. “I got cut underneath my legs and lost my legs. I got hit on the top of the head and kind of just got my head compressed into my neck, or into my, you know, whatever. I’m not sure.”

Meanwhile, the Colts continue to wait for the return of starter Andrew Luck, who’s missed five games this season, including the past three with a lacerated kidney and partially-torn abdomen. Owner Jim Irsay said last week he’s hoping for Luck to return for the team’s Dec. 20 game against Houston, at worst the game a week later in Miami.

Though Luck has begun throwing again, it doesn't appear he'll be an option next week in Jacksonville.

In the meantime, the Colts will hope for the quick recovery by Hasselbeck, who despite Sunday’s result is still 4-1 as a starter. But this night was a rough one, Hasselbeck’s worst this season. He finished 16-for-26 for 169 yards, two interceptions and a touchdown. Despite two first-quarter Steeler turnovers in their own territory, the Colts couldn’t capitalize. The game was out of reach by halftime.

Colts Insiders discuss blowout loss in Pittsburgh Colts Insiders Stephen Holder and Gregg Doyel break down the Colts' 45-10 loss to the Steelers.

Hasselbeck’s passer rating – 61.2 – was by far his worst of the year.

If Hasselbeck sits the Colts will turn to Whitehurst, a veteran of four teams who was signed midseason after Luck went down a second time. In mop-up duty on Sunday night, Whitehurst was 4-for-8 for 51 yards.

"I had the interception to start it, and it was just terrible," Hasselbeck said. "There's really no excuse ... we didn't capitalize. We didn't handle their blitz, early, really well. We knew what was coming and we didn't handle it well.

"I'm very disappointed in how I played. Extremely disappointed."

Call Star reporter Zak Keefer at (317) 444-6134 and follow him on Twitter: @zkeefer.