Davis's injury earns Mays a special invitation

FOXBOROUGH -- The Patriots filled their open roster spot yesterday, promoting former Notre Dame linebacker Corey Mays off their practice squad.

Mays, who signed with the team as a rookie free agent May 8, provides insurance if linebacker Don Davis (questionable, lower leg) doesn't suit up tonight. Davis's primary role is as a special-teams player.

The Patriots were carrying only 52 players on their 53-man roster after cutting defensive back Chidi Iwuoma Tuesday.

Mays, 22, played for former Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis at Notre Dame in 2005, starting 12 games at middle linebacker and finishing second on the team with 68 tackles (22 solo), including 10 1/2 tackles for losses, 4 sacks, 2 pass deflections, and 2 forced fumbles.

The move with Mays marks the second time in three weeks the Patriots have promoted a player from their eight-man practice squad. Offensive lineman Billy Yates, who started last Monday's game against the Vikings, was moved from the practice squad Oct. 21.

The Patriots' defense will have a different look tonight than it did almost one year ago, when the Colts pounded the unit into submission in a 40-21 victory Nov. 7 at Gillette Stadium.

The Patriots were without defensive end Richard Seymour and safety Rodney Harrison in that game, while linebacker Tedy Bruschi was playing in just his second contest after returning from a stroke. Also, Mike Vrabel was in the early stages of his move to inside linebacker, Duane Starks was starting at cornerback, and Randall Gay was the fifth starting safety of the season.

Stability has been restored this season, and the Patriots hope that leads to a better result.

"[The Colts] came in last year and blew us out, but we have some guys back healthy and we have a different confidence about ourselves, so we'll see what happens," said Harrison, who recalled watching last year's game from his couch with an injured knee. "You've got veterans back. Between us, you have -- what? -- over 25 years of football experience between [Chad] Scott, Artrell [Hawkins], myself. So that's a lot of experience.

"The guys are healthy now. We're playing extremely well as a secondary. When you have that back, you have confidence. But all that doesn't matter if we don't go out there and play well. We could always go out there and stink it up and [Peyton Manning] throws four or five touchdown passes and we get blown out of the water."

Receiver Troy Brown enters tonight's game needing just two catches to set the Patriots' record for receptions (534), passing Stanley Morgan (1977-89) . . . Tight end Benjamin Watson enters the game with 28 catches, one shy of his career high, set in 2005 . . . The game marks the fourth straight season in which the Patriots and Colts have met at Gillette Stadium . . . Starting a season at 7-0 for the second straight year, the Colts are the first team since the 1929-31 Green Bay Packers to begin back-to-back seasons with seven or more consecutive wins . . . Tonight's game is the 69th meeting between the teams, with the Patriots leading the series, 43-25, their highest winning percentage against any team they've played more than 10 times . . . The Patriots and Colts have combined for more than 50 total points in each of their last six regular-season meetings . . . The Patriots are 13-12 in Sunday night games.

Mike Reiss can be reached at mreiss@globe.com.