Colts WR Anthony Gonzalez Placed On IR

Despite speculation that he might return for the team’s final two games, Adam Schefter reports Colts wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez will indeed miss the rest of the season after Indianapolis placed him on IR on Thursday.

As SBN’s Stampede Blue points out, this clears the way for young receivers Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon to keep their spots in the Colts’ lineup. Considering that Gonzalez has been out for nearly the entire season, it would’ve been extremely difficult to get him back into game shape and back into the timing of the Colts’ offense before the playoffs begin.

The Indianapolis Colts report that wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez has suffered a setback in his recovery from his earlier knee injury, and will undergo arthroscopic surgery. While the team has not announced a timetable for his return, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Gonzalez will be out an additional 2-3 weeks as he recuperates from the surgery.

The Indianapolis Star reports:

Two day after the Colts made it clear they would not go after their former star WR Marvin Harrison, the team is set to add former Eagles receiver Hank Baskett. According to Adam Schefter, he will sign with the team today.

Baskett was cut on Tuesday to make room for Michael Vick on Philly’s active roster. He had his most productive season as a pro last year, catching 33 balls for 440 yards.

Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star reports:

Outside of Reggie Wayne, the Colts’ only healthy wide receivers are rookie Austin Collie and second year pro Pierre Garcon.

Luckily for the Colts, Gonzalez’s knee injury may turn out to be not as bad as it looked. Before the team announced Gonzalez is only expected to miss 2-6 weeks, Colts quarterback Peyton Manning talked to the press about the injury to the third year wideout: