INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ Colts coach Chuck Pagano said Wednesday that starting quarterback Andrew Luck will not play Sunday against Tennessee.

It will be the seventh straight game Luck has missed as he continues to recover from a lacerated kidney and a partially torn abdominal muscle.

But there was encouraging news for the quarterback-needy Colts (7-8).

Backup Matt Hasselbeck said he feels better than expected after hurting his throwing shoulder in last weekend's victory at Miami. He is still considered doubtful though the 40-year-old Hasselbeck remains optimistic he will play.

If he doesn't, Pagano said Josh Freeman and Ryan Lindley will battle for the starting job. Both were signed Tuesday because Luck, Hasselbeck and Charlie Whitehurst are all injured.