Indianapolis ? A lengthy injury list is forcing the Indianapolis Colts to improvise in practice.

With as many as 14 players either sidelined or seeing limited work this week, the coaching staff has shuffled healthy players to new positions, practiced with limited hitting and, in some cases, without pads.

Still, as the Colts (7-2) prepare for Sunday’s game against Kansas City (4-5), coach Tony Dungy said Friday the team had adjusted well.

“What we’ve had to do is take away a little bit of the contact (work), but the guys have practiced hard, and our tempo has been good,” Dungy said. “So, all in all, it’s been good. But it does take a toll on you.

“We’ve had defensive linemen practicing on offense; the same guys running (pass) routes for both sides. That’s where you have to be careful that it doesn’t wear your team down. But you still have to try and get that good high-tempo practice. And for a couple of weeks, we’ve been able to hang in and do that.”

Rookie defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock has been used as a backup offensive tackle because of injuries to Tony Ugoh (neck), Ryan Diem (ankle), Charlie Johnson (ankle) and Daniel Federkeil (concussion).

Ugoh returned to practice this week and is awaiting clearance to play against the Chiefs. Three others, tight end Dallas Clark (concussion), linebacker Freddy Keiaho (ear/concussion) and defensive tackle Raheem Brock (neck) already have been cleared.

Safety Bob Sanders, who missed practice Wednesday and Thursday due to a sore knee, was able to take part in Friday’s workout and is expected to play on Sunday.

“Everything is pretty good. It was a little precautionary thing,” Sanders said of his missed practices. “(The knee) was a little sore. I just took a couple of days off, and I’m back with no problems.”