TERRE HAUTE — The Indianapolis Colts continue to hold out slim hope that veteran defensive tackle Anthony McFarland might be able to return from knee surgery this season.
Injured during Friday afternoon’s training-camp practice and diagnosed with a torn patella tendon, McFarland underwent surgery Tuesday morning in Indianapolis. According to Colts coach Tony Dungy, the surgery went well.
“Anthony had his surgery. [It was the] patella tendon. Doc [Tom] Klootwyk called back and said it went fine. Just really got out [of surgery],” Dungy said following Tuesday’s afternoon practice. “I don’t have any more than that, other than they did do the surgery. He did do well and we’ll see where it goes from there.”
The Colts may decide to delay any decision on whether to place McFarland on the team’s official injury list or to keep him on the active roster. Indianapolis gambled a year ago when tight end Dallas Clark suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury midway through the regular season, but he was able to come back and play in the postseason and Super Bowl.
Dungy acknowledged that McFarland may be done for the season. But he still wants to wait and see how things progress over the next few days and weeks.
“Probably [season-ending]. But you never know,” he said. “[Former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback and safety] Rod Woodson had one [during the 1995 season], an ACL, and came back and played in the Super Bowl. So we’re going to discuss all the possibilities. I’m sure we won’t make a roster move until we have to. And we’ll just see how he’s doing, see what his prognosis is.”
In the meantime, the Colts are planning to use their own roster to find a replacement for McFarland.
“I think our point of reference is that [a new starter] it is going to be internal,” Dungy said. “If a situation comes up like last year where Anthony was out there, trade possibilities, and we’d talk about it. But I don’t think we’re going to say, ‘Hey, we’ve got to go out and find someone.’ We’ve got to assume that it’s going to be from within.”
• • •
• Navarre waived — Backup quarterback John Navarre, who was signed to a free-agent contract this past spring, was waived Tuesday in order for the Colts to find more defensive help. Indianapolis also reached an injury settlement with wide receiver Devin Aromashodu, who has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury in pre-practice warm-ups last Wednesday night.
“We waived John Navarre. Actually, John was doing pretty well, but we just needed to get some bodies in here on defense because of the injuries that we’ve had,” Dungy said. “Devin Aromashodu, we had an injury settlement with. So that created a couple spots that we hoped to bring a couple of guys in.”
Indianapolis was prepared to bring in a defensive player Tuesday, claiming someone off waivers. But the player decided that he didn’t want to play anymore. The Colts may end up bringing back one or two of the players that worked out with the team earlier this summer and were subsequently released.
• Injury update — Safety Bob Sanders and outside linebacker Keith O’Neil may be getting closer to returning to the practice field. Both have been doing rehab work with the Colts’ training staff since camp opened a week ago.
“According to our trainers, they’re still not quite ready to go,” Dungy said. “They look like they could compete in the decathlon, to me, in the next Olympics. I’d think they’d be good bets the way we’re working them. But I think we’ll probably see them next week.”
Among the players who didn’t practice Tuesday, in addition to Sanders and O’Neil, were rookie outside linebacker Clint Session, outside linebacker Rocky Boiman, defensive end Bo Schobel, cornerback Tanard Davis, rookie safety Brannon Condren, defensive end Ben Ishola, offensive tackle Charlie Johnson, offensive tackle Gabe Hall, defensive end Noland Burchette, running back Kenton Keith and defensive end Robert Mathis.
“Rocky has a sprained ankle. Bo is having a procedure done and should be fine. He may miss the [Dallas preseason] game, but he should be back next week. Rocky thinks he’s going to be able to play,” the Colts’ coach said.
“Brannon Condren sat out with a groin situation. He would like to play. He’s begging me to make the trip. I don’t think he’s going to play. But we’ve got some guys that we’re just going to be cautious with that don’t appear to be too, too serious.”
Charlie Johnson is recovering from a hip flexor and probably won’t play against the Cowboys. Session has been sidelined since last Saturday’s scrimmage with a muscle strain.
• Dawson ready to play — He may be a seventh-round draft choice, but defensive end-turned-defensive tackle Keyunta Dawson could very easily become a vital part of the Colts’ defensive-line rotation this season.
Dawson, who seems to have made a pretty smooth transition from end to tackle during the first week of training camp, and third-round draft choice Quinn Pitcock are expected to help fill the large hole left by the loss of McFarland.
It helps that the 6-foot-3, 254-pounder, who says that he is really closer to 265 pounds, has had prior experience playing defensive tackle at Texas Tech. But those occasions were primarily as a pass rusher in the Red Raiders’ pass defense scheme.
If Dawson is to play defensive tackle on a regular basis for the Colts, with occasional stints back at defensive end, he’s going to have to get used to defending against the run.
“It’s different [going from defensive end to defensive tackle], but some of the footwork and things are kind of the same. It’s also the same in a lot of ways,” he said Tuesday. “Just knowing where you are supposed to be counts for a lot.”
A native of Shreveport, La., Dawson grew up watching the Dallas Cowboys on television. There’s a pretty good chance that he’s going to see a lot of playing time against the Cowboys on Thursday night at Texas Stadium.
“I watched a lot of their games when I was growing up,” he said. “Living in Shreveport, that’s just a few hours away from Dallas. So it’s going to be fun being able to play against them this week.”
While his future may very well be as a defensive tackle, the status of starter Mathis (knee) may force Dawson to play defensive end against the Cowboys.
“We may end up having to move him back now with some of the ends being nicked up a little bit,” Dungy said. “But we really think that tackle is going to be his spot. He looks natural moving around and playing there. We’d like to get him there [defensive tackle] a little bit more than playing at end.”
• Hot temps, hot practice — Although there was a heat advisory in effect for much of Indiana on Tuesday, there were few problems during the morning or afternoon practices.
A field thermometer was placed on one of the Colts’ two practice fields during the afternoon session by an Indianapolis television station. It showed a ground temperature ranging from 118 to 120 degrees. According to the National Weather Service, the temperature at the beginning of the afternoon practice was 92 degrees with a heat index of 102 degrees.
“We’re going to be no pads, fortunately. That was already on the schedule. We may take a couple more water breaks. We’ll cut down some of the individual periods. We’ll try to get through it as best we can,” Dungy said after the morning practice.
• One practice today — With the Colts preparing to leave this afternoon for Dallas, today’s lone practice is scheduled for 9:30 a.m.
It’s the only workout that the team will have prior to Thursday night’s nationally televised (Fox Sports) preseason opener with the Cowboys.
• Romo to see limited duty — Former Eastern Illinois quarterback Tony Romo is expected to start and play one quarter against Indianapolis. Starting offensive tackles Flozell Adams and Marc Columbo will miss the game as they continue to recover from off-season knee surgeries.
Dallas is slated to start rookie Doug Free at left tackle and Pat McQuistan on the right side. Wide receiver Terry Glenn also will not play, while wide receiver Terrell Owens is likely to be listed as doubtful. Owens has been nursing a sore back.
Former Colts placekicker Martin Gramatica and Nick Folk will share kicking duties Thursday.
• High school students earn scholarships — E.J. Oruche of Fishers and Lafayette’s Andria Smith have been named recipients of the 2007 Indianapolis Colts Minority Science and Engineering Scholarships to attend Rose-Hulman in the fall.
Each scholarship covers full tuition for four years at the school. This is the third straight year that the scholarships have been awarded to an incoming freshman.
Oruche, who attended Bishop Chatard High School in Indianapolis, will major in biomedical engineering. Smith, meanwhile, will pursue her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. She is a graduate of Lafayette Jeff.
Both scholarship winners were honored Tuesday evening during the annual Colts training-camp dinner, which was sponsored by Rose-Hulman. Team president Bill Polian was the featured speaker.
Tom James can be reached by e-mail at TJames1475@aol.com.
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