INDIANAPOLIS -- It worked out all right for Darrius Heyward-Bey in 2013. LaRon Landry even played it before getting his starting spot.

Now it's time to see if demoted running back Trent Richardson can handle playing on special teams.

Richardson participated in the Colts' special teams practice on Thursday.

"I'm here to do whatever I can to help the team," Richardson said at his locker after practice.

Playing special teams is yet another sign of the failed trade by the Colts to acquire Richardson from Cleveland in September 2013. He lost his starting job to Donald Brown late in the 2013 season. Then Richardson was the third running back -- playing just one snap -- behind Daniel "Boom" Herron and Zurlon Tipton against the Cincinnati Bengals in the wild-card win last weekend.

Coach Chuck Pagano didn't sound like Richardson would move ahead of Herron or Tipton on the depth chart for Sunday's game (4:40 p.m. ET) at Denver.

"We're going to evaluate the situation as we go through the week and we'll know more as we go through the week," Pagano said Wednesday.

Richardson has only rushed for 977 yards in 29 regular-season games with the Colts.