INDIANAPOLIS -- Not even Quincy Wilson has an answer. Or maybe he doesn't want to publicly say why.

Wilson, the Indianapolis Colts second-round pick in last spring's draft, hasn't played a snap since Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals.

Why?

"I don't know," he said Monday. "You have to ask the head coach about that. Just every week going to practice, making sure I'm staying on point and practicing hard."

Wilson's words said one thing, while his facial expressions and body language said something else Monday. But the former University of Florida product kept what's been a frustrating first season bottled up by keeping his comments brief and to the point.

"Just have to make plays in practice," Wilson said. "Keep going hard in practice and making the plays they want to see."

The last time Wilson played he left the field thinking he would get snaps the rest of the season after he had two tackles and two passes defended in 65 snaps as a starter against the Cardinals.

That turned out to be wishful thinking.

Wilson was inactive in the two games after that before being a healthy inactive for three straight games. He was scheduled to dress against Cincinnati on Oct. 29 before his knee flared up the day before the game. He's been inactive in two of the three games since then, and the one game he did dress -- Pittsburgh on Nov. 12 -- he didn't play a snap.

"He's never really been himself since (the Arizona game)," coach Chuck Pagano said. "In, out, up, down, missed a couple weeks -- it's hard. He's young. He's 20 years old. He doesn't even shave. This isn't easy, but he's battling and he's working and he's out there practicing."

Defensive coordinator Ted Monachino raised some eyebrows last month when he was blunt about why Wilson hasn't been able to find his way onto the active roster.

"When Quincy practices and plays better than the other guys, he'll be up and he'll be playing," Monachino said on Oct. 26. "He played in the Arizona game and he played very well. We're not at all worried about putting Quincy in the game. But he has to practice and prepare well. That's part of him being young and also part of him being a little immature and it's all a function of he's got guys that are pretty good pros that are working their tails off to keep him where he's at now. Hopefully that's a motivator for him. When he practices better and prepares better, he'll play more."

Wilson's thoughts?

"Maybe we saw different things," he said. "But if that's what he says, I've gotta do better."

Wilson has an opportunity to salvage what's been a disappointing rookie season so far because he'll likely be active for Sunday's game against Jacksonville due to starting cornerback Rashaan Melvin dealing with a right hand injury that's expected to keep him out the game. Wilson will be competing with Kenny Moore II to start ,with Pierre Desir as the second cornerback against the Jaguars.

"If I'm him right now, I'm saying, 'OK, here's another opportunity, get back out there and see what I can do,'" Pagano said. "Kenny went in and played good (against Tennessee on Sunday). We'll go through the week, and he'll get his opportunities and we'll see how the chips fall. But it's a great opportunity for all those guys. Next man up."