Colts’ Thomas Out of Hospital

Indianapolis Colt defensive end Mark Thomas, knocked unconscious when he was struck in the helmet with a knee during Sunday’s game against Dallas, rejoined the team Monday after being hospitalized overnight.

Doctors determined he had a concussion and ruled Thomas out of this week’s game against Kansas City.

Thomas was hit late in the fourth quarter and lay motionless on the floor of the RCA Dome as medical personnel tried to assess his injury. After 10 minutes, he was taken from the field on a stretcher and transported by ambulance to a hospital.

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New England tight end Ben Coates has only 16 catches and had none in Sunday’s 27-3 victory at Arizona.

“There’s nothing to talk about,” Coates said in the locker room after the game, according to the Boston Globe. “If this is the way they want it, what’s there to say? Just release me. Be my guest.”

On Monday, Coach Pete Carroll said, “We’re not going to call plays to make some guy happy. We’re going to call plays to win games.”

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Troy Aikman will have an MRI today as a precautionary measure after suffering a concussion in the Cowboys’ 34-24 loss to Indianapolis Sunday. Aikman said he expects to be able to play Monday night against Minnesota. . . . Arizona Cardinal defensive end Andre Wadsworth probably will undergo arthroscopic knee surgery this week. Cardinal defensive line coach Joe Greene, the former Pittsburgh Steeler star, has admitted slapping a stadium worker after Sunday’s 27-3 loss to New England. Greene said the worker intentionally ran over his foot with a cart. . . . Rookie quarterback Akili Smith will be sidelined for a few weeks by a sprained toe, an injury suffered during a 41-10 loss to Jacksonville. Jeff Blake will replace Smith in the starting lineup.