Which brings us to the obvious question that has bubbled up more and more this season, particularly once it became apparent that Garcon and Collie not only could play, but do so at a high enough level that the Colts would want them on the field no matter Gonzalez's status:
Once Gonzalez returns, what happens?
Mostly likely, Gonzalez returns slowly, as CB Kelvin Hayden -- whose return is equally criticial as that of Gonzalez, if not more -- did this past Sunday, working as a reserve, and perhaps eventually working into the starting lineup. While Hayden almost certainly will start again this season, Gonzalez perhaps will not, particularly if his return doesn't come until the final week of the regular-season or later. If he does return to the starting lineup, here's guessing he plays more slot than outside. That could mean less time for Collie, but Gonzalez gives you inside what Collie does with perhaps more big-play ability, and it's hard to imagine the Colts wanting Garcon's speed and big-play ability off the field.
The Colts understandably have said little specific on that front. Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell said a few weeks back it's a good problem to have, and he's right. With depth always an issue in the postseason, having four wide receivers is better than having three, and the huge, obvious positive of Gonzalez's injury is that when he returns, the Colts will have a receiving corps that is its most dangerous since 2004 -- WR Brandon Stokley's lone healthy season with the Colts, when he, Wayne and WR Marvin Harrison became the only trio in NFL history to each have more than 1,000 yards receiving and double-digit touchdowns.
This group doesn't match that trio. While Wayne right now rivals Harrison is in his prime, neither Garcon nor Collie is close to the 2004 version of Wayne, and there are those around the Colts -- Polian and QB Peyton Manning among them -- who believe a healthy Stokely on par with the great slot receivers ever.
Still, a healthy Gonzalez will give the Colts easily the best four wide receivers of this or any other Indianapolis era. The Colts rarely have played four wide receivers. To do so would mean taking TE Dallas Clark or RB Joseph Addai off the field, and that's not in keeping with Senior Offensive Coordinator Tom Moore's philosophy of somehow, someway having your best players on the field. But one reason the Colts rarely have played four wides in the past may be that they never have had four wides they wanted on the field at the same time. Hard to imagine they wouldn't find some wrinkle for a Garcon/Wayne/Gonzalez/Collie combination.
Mostly, the Colts still need Gonzalez because he is a core player capable of making big plays. He has performed well in each of his two postseason games, and Manning trusts him.
There are those who worry about Gonzalez returning and being a shell of himself as WR Marvin Harrison was in 2007, when he played just five games before returning for the postseason, when he had a crucial, momentum-turning fumble in a loss to San Diego. But that version of Harrison was more than an injured, rusty Harrison, it was also a Harrison past his prime, as evidenced the following season. A Gonzalez return likely would feel more like 2003, when Stokley played sparingly in his first season with the Colts because of injuries, then became key to the Colts' first significant playoff run of the decade.
QB Peyton Manning said shortly after Gonzalez's injury the Colts needed Gonzalez to achieve their season goals. That may not be as true anymore, but it's still true, because while it's conceivable the Colts could win the Super Bowl, the truth remains it will be a whole lot easier with him.
Highlighting Colts President Bill Polian's radio show:
Part One: WR Anthony Gonzalez may still contribute this season. Here.
Part Two: Roster size will dictate late-season approach. Here.
Part Three: S Bob Sanders' rehabilitation going smoothly. Here.
Part Four: Postseason approach won't change. Here.
MORE COLTS COVERAGE
CALDWELL: "I'M NOT SURE YOU EVER BENEFIT FROM A LOSS." HERE.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 27, TENNESSEE TITANS 17. HERE.
COLTS WORK OUT J.P. LOSMAN. HERE
COFFEE WITH THE COLTS: NEXT-DAY LOOK AT COLTS-TEXANS. HERE
MAGNIFICENT SEVEN: WHY THE COLTS MUST REST IF THEY CLINCH HOMEFIELD. HERE
FREENEY: No trophies for 16-0. Here.
MATHIS: AFC Defensive Player of the Month. Here.
CALDWELL: 16-0 not that important. 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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