Matt Hasselbeck returns to practice with Colts, is expected to start Sunday

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Matt Hasselbeck returned to practice Thursday after sitting out Wednesday with day because of a rib injury.

Coach Chuck Pagano has said all week he believes Hasselbeck will play in Sunday’s pivotal game between the AFC South’s co-leaders, Indianapolis (6-7) and Houston (6-7).

Starting quarterback Andrew Luck has already been ruled out as he continues to recover from a lacerated kidney and partially torn abdominal muscle. Luck threw passes during the open portion of practice for the second straight day.

Perhaps most significant was the reappearance of Hasselbeck, who has dealt with neck, rib, back and shoulder injuries over the past two weeks. His left arm had been immobilized most of this week. Hasselbeck is 4-2 as a starter this season.

Barry Cofield back with Giants

The New York Giants reached back to their Super Bowl championship season of 2007 Thursday with the signing of defensive tackle Barry Cofield.

Cofield, drafted in the fourth round (124th overall) out of Northwestern in 2006, played for Tom Coughlin until Cofield left for Washington as a free agent in 2011. In five years with the Giants, he missed only one game, in 2008, and started all but two.

“He brings a veteran presence and brings a guy who’s very aware of the way we play,” Coughlin said. “He’s a guy in excellent condition and will really help us down the stretch.”

Cofield, 6-foot-3 and 305 pounds, is expected to bulk up the middle of a run defense that allows a 16th-ranked 110.2 yards per game. He took the roster spot vacated by the release Wednesday of safety Brandon Meriweather.