By Tony Moss, NFL Editor

(Sports Network) - The NFL preseason will kick off in traditional fashion on Sunday night, when the Washington Redskins and Indianapolis Colts do battle in the annual Hall of Fame from Canton, OH.

Making his sideline debut for the Redskins will be head coach Jim Zorn, who was hired away from the Seattle Seahawks following the offseason retirement of the legendary Joe Gibbs. Zorn, who spent nine years as a quarterback with the Seahawks from 1976-84, spent the last seven seasons tutoring that team's signal-callers.

Also appearing as a member of the Redskins for the first time will be Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Taylor, who was dealt to Washington from the Dolphins in exchange for second- and sixth-round draft picks on July 20th.

Zorn and Taylor will try to help Washington build off last year's 9-7 campaign, which came complete with the franchise's second postseason appearance in the past three years.

Redskins who won't appear on Sunday include running backs Clinton Portis (hips) and Ladell Betts (thigh).

Indianapolis, which comes off a 13-3 season and fifth consecutive AFC South title, will take the field on Sunday without its most visible player. Quarterback Peyton Manning is expected to miss the majority of the preseason following minor knee surgery on July 14th, a circumstance that pushes longtime backup Jim Sorgi into a temporary starting role.

A pair of signal-calling newcomers, Quinn Gray (ex-Jaguars) and Jared Lorenzen (ex-Giants), should also get an opportunity to take some snaps on Sunday.

Elsewhere on the injury front, Indianapolis defensive end Dwight Freeney (foot) is not expected to see any time on Sunday as he continues to recover from a season-ending injury suffered in 2007. Safety Bob Sanders (shoulder) and linebackers Gary Brackett (hip) and Tyjuan Hagler (pectoral) will also sit out the preseason lid-lifter.

Indy wide receiver Marvin Harrison, who missed most of 2007 with a knee problem, could see limited snaps against the Redskins, however.

The Colts lead the all-time preseason series with the Redskins, 15-10-1, though the clubs have not met in a preseason game since 1981, when the Colts franchise was still located in Baltimore. The Redskins were 13-7 winners at Memorial Stadium in that contest.

Indianapolis was a 36-22 home winner when the clubs last played meaningful football against one another, during the 2006 regular season.

The annual Hall of Fame game is played at Pro Football Hall of Fame Field at Fawcett Stadium, a Canton city high school facility which seats 22,375 and can accommodate up to 1,500 in standing room. It is located directly across the street from the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The first game of the series was played in 1962, a year before the Hall was opened. Except for 1966, there has been a Hall of Fame game in Canton every year since.

The Colts have a 2-1 record in Hall of Fame Games, including a 10-3 win over New Orleans when they last played in Canton, in 1996.

The Redskins are a perfect 4-0 in the Hall of Fame Game, prevailing in the event prior to the 1965, 1975, 1989, and 2004 seasons. In their most recent appearance, the Skins downed the Broncos by a 20-17 count.