Indianapolis Colts 2010 organized team activities: The return of wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez (p2)

(2 of 2) PREVIOUS 1 | 2

What's next for Gonzalez is regaining a position in what in his absence developed into one of the NFL's best receiving trios.

While WR Reggie Wayne, a Pro Bowl selection the past four seasons, seems assured one of starting outside receiver role, how Gonzalez will fit into a group that also includes third-year veteran Pierre Garcon and second-year veteran Austin Collie remains to be seen.

Garcon, a third-year veteran from Mount Union, started much of last season on the outside, catching 47 passes for 765 regular-season yards and four touchdowns. Collie caught 60 passes for 676 yards and seven touchdowns.

Garcon developed into a legitimate big-play threat and has big-time size and speed, so it's hard to imagine the Colts not having him on the field as much as possible. Collie, a fourth-round selection in the 2009 NFL Draft from Brigham Young, played solidly as a slot receiver, improving throughout the latter half of the season and the post-season. When the New York Jets swung the defense toward Wayne and TE Dallas Clark in the AFC Championship Game, Manning didn't hesitate to use Garcon and Collie again and again.

Such ability to use three, four or five options is the key to the Colts' offensive success in recent seasons, and given Manning's ability to use whatever talent is around him, it seems likely Gonzalez will play a major role this season. Manning following Gonzalez's injury last season was quick to discuss the receiver's importance, and if Gonzalez is back to full strength, he has the ability to run after the catch and make plays downfield.

What Gonzalez also has is the ability to not only play inside, but outside, and while he said last week it's his understanding he'll be able to compete for the second outside receiver position at which he started last season, Caldwell discussed Gonzalez's versatility when discussing the receivers last week.

“Right now, that’s probably one of the great things about this time of year,” Caldwell said. “It gives us a chance to look at a little bit of everything. He (Gonzalez) has a lot of versatility, obviously. He played both previously, both inside and outside, and that certainly could be the case going forward in the future.

“We want to take a look at everyone and see how they perform in their particular roles and adjust them as we go.”

Gonzalez, who caught 94 passes for 1,240 yards in his first two NFL seasons, played extensively in the slot and on the outside as a rookie, then played mostly the slot in 2008, WR Marvin Harrison's final season. Gonzalez showed the potential in each year to make plays, and seemed poised last season to make the jump to 1,000-yard, double-digit touchdown receiver.

His injury kept that from happening, and moved him into a situation where he's proving himself entering his fourth season.

Just where will Gonzalez fit? That's a major question entering OTAs, and is likely to remain one entering training camp and perhaps even the regular season. Still, if he remains healthy, it's hard to imagine he won't play a major role somewhere, and it's hard to imagine his return won't make Indianapolis a significantly better, more-potent offense.

(2 of 2) PREVIOUS 1 | 2