Colts hope to have Chuck Pagano back by Dec. 30

The Indianapolis Colts hope to have head coach Chuck Pagano back on the sidelines by Dec. 30, according to Phillip B. Wilson of the Indy Star.

Interim head coach Bruce Arians spoke Monday to discuss Pagano and delivered a very positive message.

"His (white cell) count was great. He knows that this next (round of chemotherapy) is going to be really tough. We're praying and pulling that he's going to be fine. Once he comes back from round two, he'll have to have round three. Our goal is for him to be on the sideline Dec. 30th."

Dec. 30 is the season finale for the Colts. They face the Houston Texans in Indianapolis.

Pagano has been hospitalized since Sept. 26, following the diagnosis of leukemia, but he received good news regarding his fight against the cancer Monday. His cancer is in remission following the first round of chemotherapy treatment. He still has two more rounds of chemotherapy ahead of him, but the reports of the treatment's effectiveness thus far are very positive.

Pagano, per reports, has excelled in every step of his fight to this point, and he was able to watch his Colts team in person for the first time since the diagnosis this past week as Indianapolis defeated the Miami Dolphins.