“My speed is back,” he said Thursday. “My route-running feels like it is there. There is a little bit of rust there, but I think that’s just being out for a year, not necessarily having an injury. I think I’m as close as I’ll be, but I do feel good.
“The speed was really my big concern and that’s back, so that’s an answered question in my mind.”
And make no mistake:
The competition Gonzalez faces? It's real competition, and it likely will be difficult.
With Gonzalez out much of last season, Pierre Garcon – a third-year veteran from Mount Union – started much of the season on the outside, catching 47 passes for 765 regular-season yards and four touchdowns. Austin Collie, a second-year veteran from Brigham Young, played extensively in the slot, catching 60 passes for 676 yards and seven touchdowns.
With four-time Pro Bowl selection Reggie Wayne catching 100 passes for 1,264 yards and 10 touchdowns, the Colts next season could return one of their deepest groups of wide receivers in the last decade.
“The thing is everybody had such great years last year, so it will be interesting to see,” Gonzalez said. “I don’t know what is going to happen. I’ve been told that I’m going to have the opportunity to compete for my job again, and that’s all that I really want is an opportunity. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.
“I think every one of the receivers is going to prepare like crazy and 'earn that spot,' whatever it is. That’s kind of my approach.”
Whether that approach moves Gonzalez into the starting lineup remains to be seen. Gonzalez, when healthy, has big-play ability and is one of the team's better runners after the catch. He is a first-round talent and his return to the lineup is one of the reasons the Colts could have their deepest receiving corps in recent memory.
At the same time, it seems logical the Colts could leave Garcon at the outside spot opposite Reggie Wayne. Garcon is a big-time talent with special ability to run after the catch and speed to get open deep, and Collie proved himself more than capable in the slot.
Considering that, Gonzalez's role could be anything from a starter to essentially the No. 4 receiver in the Colts' offense. And while his ideal scenario obviously is the former, whatever his role his return can't help but help the Colts and it may be what moves them from a very good offense last year to one of their best in recent memory.
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