WR Collie goes on IR after second concussion has 0 comments

Dec 22nd 2010, 20:32 | FFN-Score: 25 points

The Indianapolis Colts placed wide receiver Austin Collie, who sustained two concussions in seven weeks, on season-ending injured reserve Wednesday, team owner Jim Irsay announced.


Collie, a second-year pro, leads the Colts with eight touchdown catches and is second on the team with 58 receptions.

"He's certainly a guy that's going to be missed, but from a medical standpoint, we're concerned by his health more than anything else," Colts coach Jim Caldwell said.

Collie was injured late in the second quarter of Sunday's 34-24 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars when Peyton Manning tried to thread a ball between two defenders on a third-and-12 play. Collie appeared to catch the ball, but when the second defender, linebacker Daryl Smith, collided with the receiver, the ball came out.

The pass was ruled incomplete, and no penalty was called.

But Collie stayed down on the field, motionless for several minutes as the hushed crowd watched 10 coaches and trainers huddle around Collie. Eventually, Collie sat up and walked straight to the locker room, missing the final 67 seconds of the half. He didn't return and wasn't available for comment after the game.

It was Collie's third injury of the season. He also hurt his right thumb Oct. 17 at Washington. Surgery forced Collie to sit out the Colts' next game.

Collie returned Nov. 7 against Philadelphia, but he left in the first half after Eagles defensive back Kurt Coleman lowered his shoulder to hit the receiver and inadvertently caused a helmet-to-helmet collision. Collie lay motionless on the field for about 10 minutes before being placed on a backboard and taken off the field on a stretcher.

Collie sat out the next week, then returned Nov. 21 against the New England Patriots but left in the first quarter with concussion-like symptoms.

Collie didn't play again until Sunday when he showed up with a tinted visor underneath his facemask. Collie played well against the Jaguars, catching eight of the 10 passes that Manning threw his direction for 87 yards and two TDs.

Collie joins Pro Bowl tight end Dallas Clark and wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez on IR.

Irsay also said the Colts have signed veteran safety Ken Hamlin, who has been on and off the Baltimore Ravens' roster this season after spending his first seven seasons with the Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys.