A change at running back is in the works for the Indianapolis Colts.
The team announced Wednesday that running back Donald Brown tore cartilage in his knee and required surgery Tuesday. Interim head coach Bruce Arians said Brown would likely miss two to three weeks while recovering. He will not play against the New York Jets on Sunday.
Brown injured his knee during the two-point conversion at the end of the Green Bay game, Arians revealed.
Rookie Vick Ballard will get the start against the Jets, his first of his career.
"I don't think any task is too big for me. All I can do is go out there and do what I'm supposed to do and not try to be Superman," said Ballard.
The Colts will turn to a running back rotation that will include Ballard, Delone Carter and veteran Mewelde Moore. Carter had slipped down the depth chart and only played last week against the Packers but is more then ready for an increased role.
"Donald (Brown) went down for awhile and it's next man up and you have to prepare yourself the best way possible," said second-year running back Delone Carter.
Arians also addressed other injury concerns with the team, saying that Dwight Freeney will have “limited reps” this week to keep him fresh for the Jets game. Freeney suffered an ankle injury in week one and didn’t play until the Green Bay game.
Robert Mathis is getting checked after leaving the Packers game, Arians said. Sources told Fox59 that Mathis sprained his knee and would miss this week's game against the Jets. It's possible Mathis could miss more time.
The team is still evaluating linebacker Pat Angerer, who has yet to play a single down for the team during the regular season after breaking a bone in his foot during the preseason.
Aside from the injuries, the Colts still had something to celebrate. The team revealed Wednesday that wide receiver Reggie Wayne won AFC Offensive Player of the Week after having 13 catches for 212 yards against the Packers.
The 212 yards were a career high; Wayne punctuated the effort with the game-winning touchdown reception from quarterback Andrew Luck. This marks the first time Wayne has won the award in his 12-year career.
