The Indianapolis Colts are still hoping to get a contribution from WR Anthony Gonzalez late the season or in the postseason.
As to when that contribution might come, Colts President Bill Polian said he's not sure.
Gonzalez, who began the season as the Colts' starting wide receiver opposite three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Reggie Wayne, sustained a knee injury in the season opener. After having a setback, Gonzalez has yet to play, and Polian said the hope is still that he will return this season.
“Anthony is a bit behind schedule,” Polian said Monday on his weekly radio show on Hank FM 97.1 in Indianapolis. “We thought perhaps that he might be back starting to practice this week, but as you know, he had a setback. He had to have some arthroscopic surgery to just tweak the knee a little bit. My hope is that we get a breakthrough here one of these weeks and that he'll be back before the season is over.
“Part of the problem here – and it's true with any injured player – is the doctors give you a prognosis, but it's only that. It's a prognosis. It's an estimate. Players heal – and human beings heal – at different rates. Anthony's just been a little slow coming around. But we know what the issue is and we know it will come around probably sooner rather than later and we're hopeful it will be even quicker than that.”
Polian said Gonzalez – a first-round selection in the 2007 NFL Draft – could play in the postseason even if he didn't play in the regular season.
"You could do that, because you have ostensibly two weeks – hopefully, two weeks to get ready,” Polian said. “So, you could get him ready in that period of time. It would be ideal to have him play before that but you could get him ready to play in a couple of weeks, I think.”
Polian on Monday also addressed:
*Second-year RB Mike Hart: “Mike is fine. As you saw Sunday, he did a great job. He has that special magic where he can make people miss. He has great hands and he's a very reliable blocker. He finishes every run. We're happy he got out there and got a chance to show what he can do. I know there a lot of Mike Hart fans here Indianapolis. I'm one of them. I was thrilled to see how he'd done. He has worked his way back from a tough [knee] injury sustained last season."
*Veteran WR Hank Baskett: “Hank is fine. He practices well every week. We just have not gone to a lot of four wide receiver sets, and – I'm knocking on the table and my head at the same time – fortunately, all of the wide receivers have stayed healthy, so there haven't been that many reps for Hank. He's healthy and fine and practicing well and rarin' to go.”
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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