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 Wednesday, and Colts coach Tony Dungy said Addai would 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 rushed the ball only 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.”

Jackson big loss for Colts

The Colts’ secondary was dealt a big blow yesterday when cornerback Marlin Jackson suffered a “significant” right-knee injury during a non-contact part of a no-pads practice Wednesday.

Dungy said yesterday that Jackson remembered none too fondly by Patriots fans as the player who made the game-sealing interception in the AFC title game in 2006 will need surgery and was placed on season-ending injured reserve.

The NFL Network’s Adam Schefter reported that Jackson tore his ACL and meniscus cartilage.

Colts’ injury list

On their injury report yesterday, DB Kelvin Hayden (knee/hamstring), who returned to full practice Wednesday, was listing as having not participated, meaning he probably suffered a setback. WR Reggie Wayne (knee) did not practice for the second straight day; LB Freddy Keiaho (knee), RB Clifton Dawson (concussion), WR Roy Hall (knee), DB Dante Hughes (ankle) and TE Tom Santi (shoulder) also did not practice.

Hobbs, Moss practicing

The Patriots had good news on the practice front, as CB Ellis Hobbs (shoulder) returned to practice in a limited capacity after having not practiced Wednesday, and Randy Moss (foot), who reportedly was limited in practice Wednesday was listed as having participated fully yesterday.

The Patriots once again were inside the Dana-Farber Fieldhouse wearing light pads and sweatpants.

RB Sammy Morris (knee), CB Lewis Sanders (hamstring) and LB Shawn Crable (shin) did not practice; Hobbs, RB LaMont Jordan (calf), DE Jarvis Green (right ankle), T Nick Kaczur (right ankle), LB Eric Alexander (hamstring) and WR/SpT Matthew Slater (ankle) were all limited.

Gostkowski, Mayo honored

Two Patriots picked up an honor yesterday when placekicker Stephen Gostkowski was named AFC special teams player of the month and LB Jerod Mayo was named NFL rookie of the month, both for October.

Gostkowski converted 9 of 10 field-goal attempts and all his extra points in the month; Mayo led the Patriots with 24 tackles as well as a fumble recovery in New England’s four games this month.

Former Boston College star Matt Ryan, now quarterbacking the Atlanta Falcons, was the league’s offensive rookie of the month. Mayo is the second Pats’ rookie to win a monthly award; Deion Branch got the honor in September 2002.

roblee@projo.com / smanza@projo.com