Colts coach Chuck Pagano knows Matt Hasselbeck is hurting.
That's why Pagano invoked a boxing reference when announcing on Friday that the quarterback would fight through a rib injury and start Sunday's pivotal AFC South matchup with the Houston Texans.
Hasselbeck was listed as probable for the game, but he's nowhere near 100 percent healthy after sustaining injuries in the past two games. That prompted Pagano to liken Hasselbeck's situation to that of boxer Arturo Gatti, who famously continued fighting Micky Ward after breaking his hand in the fourth round of their 2003 bout.
"Gatti came to the corner after the fourth round," Pagano said.