INDIANAPOLIS — The injury bug is still haunting the Indianapolis Colts.
Cornerback Marlin Jackson and strong safety Bob Sanders were lost for the season Friday as the team placed them on injured reserve.
Jackson, who missed the second half of the 2008 season after injuring his right knee during practice, suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury to his left knee during a non-contact drill Wednesday. He had been rehabbing the knee after he was hurt against Seattle on Oct. 4.
Sanders, a two-time Pro Bowler, tore his left bicep against the 49ers last weekend and will need surgery.
Sanders had just returned to the Colts' lineup two weeks ago. He had missed all of training camp and the first five games of the year after undergoing offseason knee surgery. He has missed 40 of 87 games during his injury-plagued, six-year NFL career.
Indianapolis' other veteran cornerback, Kelvin Hayden, is also expected to be sidelined for the next three to four weeks after he suffered a sprained knee during the 18-14 win over San Francisco. Hayden is not expected to undergo surgery.
"Not real sure (how long Hayden will be out)," coach Jim Caldwell said. "We're kind of looking at probably a three to four week window."
The Colts (7-0) host AFC South rival Houston (5-3) this Sunday. Texans quarterback Matt Schaub and receiver Andre Johnson will likely be looking at a Colts defense with two rookies — Jerraud Powers and Jacob Lacey — starting at cornerback. Three-year veteran Melvin Bullitt will take Sanders' place at strong safety.
"(Sanders and Gonzalez) are fine football players, great leaders and members of our team," Caldwell said. "The thing about it, though, we've had young people step up and do a great job in their absence. We'll continue on that path."
Wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez, meanwhile, underwent arthroscopic surgery Thursday to clean out loose particles in his right knee. Gonzalez suffered a sprained ligament in the knee during the Colts' season-opening win over Jacksonville. A date for his return has yet to be determined.
Wide receiver Pierre Garcon (ankle), defensive tackle Fili Moala (concussion), offensive tackle Tony Ugoh (rest) and placekicker Adam Vinatieri (knee) did not practice Friday. Garcon and Moala are both listed as questionable for the Houston game, as is running back Donald Brown (shoulder).
Defensive end Josh Thomas has returned to the Colts for the second time this season. Thomas originally played with the Colts from 2004-08, starting 12 games. And Indianapolis signed tight end Tom Santi off the practice squad.
Colts
Colts put CB Jackson, S Sanders on IR
- Colts
-
-
Former Arabian prepares for Pac-12 championships, cheers Luck
Stanford sophomore Ellie McCardwell was in the training room with some of the Cardinal’s football players two weeks ago when the Indianapolis Colts selected university legend Andrew Luck with the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft.
A two-time state champion in the pole vault at Pendleton Heights, McCardwell said she’ll never forget the reaction as Stanford athletes around the room cheered one of their own. -
Colts to hold camp at AU again
The Colts ended months of speculation Monday by announcing they will hold training camp at Anderson University this summer for the third straight year. Players are scheduled to report July 28, and the first practice will take place July 29.
-
Colts rookie Chapman just happy to be here
Not many players get excited about the mundane details of football. Not many openly hope to face double-team blockers. Not many play through serious injury. But Indianapolis Colts rookie Josh Chapman is not like many players.
-
George Bremer: Could T.Y. come to rescue?
T.Y. Hilton understands what it takes to build a football program from the ground up.
-
Luck improves on Day 2
The Indianapolis Colts don’t have much time with Andrew Luck this week, but they intend to make the most of it. A day after earning near universal praise for his ability to pick up and execute complex offensive terms, Luck was thrown another bagful of new concepts Saturday. And he wouldn’t have it any other way.
-
New era dawns with Colts rookie camp
By the time owner Jim Irsay rolled up to the sideline driving a golf cart Friday afternoon, it was abundantly clear this was no ordinary rookie mini-camp for the Indianapolis Colts. ESPN and the NFL Network each sent reporters to the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center, and they were joined by about a dozen other reporters and photographers from various local media outlets. Everyone was on hand to get a glimpse of the future — the first on-field look at No. 1 overall pick Andrew Luck.
-
Freeney adjusting to new OLB role
Dwight Freeney has been the subject of rampant offseason speculation.
With the Indianapolis Colts transitioning to a 3-4 defense, Freeney is slated to move from the defensive end position he’s played for the past 11 years back a few steps to outside linebacker. -
Colts sign 15 undrafted free agents
Less than 48 hours after the conclusion of the 2012 NFL draft, Indianapolis Colts general manager Ryan Grigson finally found his cornerback.
Four of them, actually. -
George Bremer: Critics, hold your horses
Colts fans with an uneasy feeling in their stomachs likely learned an important lesson this weekend. This process that the outside world calls rebuilding and the Colts internally term “Building the Monster” is not going to be an overnight success.
-
Offense rules Colts 2012 draft
The Indianapolis Colts open and closed Ryan Grigson’s first draft by taking a quarterback.
In between, the team almost exclusively added playmakers to lineup alongside them. Eight of the Colts’ 10 picks were on the offensive side of the ball, including four of six picks on Saturday. - More Colts Headlines
-
