By ROBERT LEE
JOURNAL SPORTS WRITER

FOXBORO - The Indianapolis Colts expect to get one key offensive weapon back Sunday night when the Colts host the Patriots at Lucas Oil Stadium - Pro Bowl running back Joseph Addai.

Addai, who made his first Pro Bowl last season, went down with a hamstring injury against Baltimore on Oct. 12 and has not played since.

He returned to practice on Wednesday and Colts coach Tony Dungy said that Addai will play Sunday if he does not suffer a setback.

Addai is second on the Colts in rushing with 62 carries for 216 yards with four rushing touchdowns even though he has not played since Oct. 12. He only rushed the ball twice against Baltimore before getting injured.

Dominic Rhodes ran well in his place and he leads the team in rushing with 69 carries for 247 yards and three touchdowns.

"We've got to stop the run," Patriots linebacker Adalius Thomas said. "Addai will be coming back and Rhodes, either one, both of them are good backs. Whoever is in there, we have to [stop the run]."

"Addai is a great player," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "I think that Rhodes is a quality player too. He has shown that in the past. He certainly showed it in the opportunities he has had to play. [When] they run their offense, he can do everything they need him to do and I think Addai is a good player too. Whichever one of them is in there we will have to be prepared for."

Addai, who is in his third NFL season, has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons in the NFL.

"He's an explosive runner," New England linebacker Mike Vrabel said. "He's a good jump-cut runner."