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Indianapolis Colts WR Anthony Gonzalez (AJ Mast/AP Photo)
Indianapolis Colts WR Anthony Gonzalez hasn't played since he sustained a Week 1 knee injury against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
That could change this week.
Gonzalez, a third-year wide receiver who opened the season starting opposite three-time Pro Bowl WR Reggie Wayne, went through a light practice Monday, and could practice when Indianapolis begins preparations Wednesday for the New York Jets.
“He practiced [Monday] and it seemed to go OK,” Colts President Bill Polian said Monday on his weekly radio show on 97.1 Hank FM in Indianapolis. “Now, today was just a light workout – typical Monday workout where we try to concentrate on some mistakes we made in the previous game – but he did practice and seemed to go through it fine.
“In fact, I know he went through it fine, because he stayed out afterward and did some extra work with some other receivers.”
Gonzalez, a first-round selection in the 2007 NFL Draft, originally was scheduled to return after about eight weeks, but after a setback, he underwent arthroscopic surgery in early November and his return was delayed.
“He'll practice fully on Wednesday,” Polian said. “That should tell the tale. We'll see how he comes in on Thursday. I would say he's an end-of-the-week, game-time decision. He would like to get on the field and we would like to get him on the field for as many snaps as we can if we can do that on Sunday.
“That's a question that will be answered later in the week.”
Polian on Monday also addressed:
*The status of CB Jerraud Powers and K Adam Vinatieri: “Adam will kick later this week and as we get later in the week, we'll get a better feel for whether or not he's ready to go. I think he would like to. What his body tells him is another story. We'll see how that goes. Jerraud will be out this week and likely next. There's no indication whatsoever that he won't be back for the playoff game. In fact, he'll likely have the two full weeks of practice and be ready to go for the playoff game. It's just a little bump in the road and truthfully, the rest is probably a good thing for him. He played a lot of snaps for a young player. He's raring to go. The trainers had to put a leash on him today. We'll see how he responds as the week goes on, but I would be fairly certain that he's at least questionable for next week, but we fully expect he'll back for the playoff game.”
*The likelihood of using a first-round selection on a returner: “It would depend entirely upon what else was there. If there was a great dual returner – he would have to return both punts and kicks – and there was nothing else there that was a premium player, sure. Our objective with the draft is always to take the best football player – not necessarily what people think our need may be or who they think is the hottest player or things of that nature. We go for the best players. Most people thought we made a mistake when we took a so-called undersized defensive end named Dwight Freeney. So, the answer is, 'Yes, if he's a good enough player.' It proves you take the best player. You don't take what people perceive to be the need.”
*The possibility of releasing S Bob Sanders after the season: "First of all, it's entirely possible that if there is no labor agreement between now and March 5 that there will be an uncapped year. So, there will be new rules that apply. It would take me all night to give you the whole digest of rules, but the most obvious one is that players who otherwise would have been unrestricted free agents will be restricted free agents. That means the old club has a right of first refusal on those players, so you could keep them or get draft-choice compensation if someone else were to put an offer sheet on them. That's a marked change from the way business has been done in the National Football League for the last 15 years. As for Bob, there is no reason – salary cap or otherwise – to let him go. He's back here for the holidays. He's been in Florida assiduously rehabilitating both his arm and his knee. He just had some tough luck. He's a game-changing player. By the way, Troy Polamalu has had some tough luck. Those guys are some of the most explosive guys in the game and they have had some tough luck, but there's absolutely no reason to think about letting him go. In fact, we're eagerly awaiting his return. He'll be back hale and hearty next year and we look forward to having him back out there on the field."
*On S Melvin Bullitt: "We certainly did know about Melvin and anticipated he would play very well. No one is quite Bob. He's unique, but Melvin has stepped in and done a wonderful job, as has Antoine Bethea. We're fortunate to have that kind of depth and that kind of character and that's one of the reasons we are where we are."
Reviewing Colts President Bill Polian's weekly radio show . . .
* Part One: WR Anthony Gonzalez likely will be game-time decision this week. Here.
* Part Two: Polian: You want to win every time you take the field. Here.
* Part Three: Polian: "16-0 is not a goal." Here.
* Part Four: Polian: "Whatever our opponents' concerns are, are their concerns." Here.
COLTS COVERAGE.
CALDWELL VAGUE ON PLAYING TIME VERSUS JETS. HERE
COFFEE WITH THE COLTS: NEXT-DAY LOOK AT COLTS-JAGUARS. HERE
COLTS BEAT JAGUARS, 35-31: HERE
MAGNIFICENT SEVEN: DEBUNKING A MYTH ABOUT HOW THE COLTS MIGHT APPROACH THE REST OF THE SEASON. HERE.
QUOTING THE COLTS. HERE.
MANNING ON PLAYING STARTERS THURSDAY: "THAT'S WHAT WE WANTED TO HEAR." HERE
DOES PEYTON MANNING GET TOO MUCH RESPECT? HERE
POLIANS' CONTRACTS EXTENDED. HERE
COLTS FANS OWE RB JOSEPH ADDAI AN APOLOGY. HERE
*** CATCH UP WITH ALL THINGS COLTS ON INDY FOOTBALL REPORT. HERE
*** READ JOHN OEHSER'S INDIANA PACERS COVERAGE. HERE.
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