The Sports Xchange

Matt Hasselbeck will start at quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday at Houston, ESPN reported.

The backup is pressed into action for the second consecutive game as Andrew Luck recovers from an injury to his throwing shoulder. Luck hurt his right shoulder in Week 3, according to the quarterback, but his performance to date was atypical and prompts doubt about the timing of the injury. Luck was dead last in passer rating (65.0) with five touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Hasselbeck missed Tuesday’s practice with an illness and was listed on the injury report as questionable. The Colts re-signed quarterback Josh Johnson, who served as the backup to Hasselbeck during Week 4, as insurance.

Hasselbeck, 40, guided the Colts to an overtime victory last week, beating Jacksonville on Adam Vinatieri’s field goal after the Jaguars missed a field goal attempt to start overtime.