The Indianapolis Colts are in no hurry to push the return of oft-injured strong safety Bob Sanders.
Sanders is on the Colts’ physically unable to perform list after undergoing surgery on his right knee in the spring. He has not practiced since the start of training camp. The 2007 NFL Defensive Player of the Year has spent the last few days meeting with renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews at his clinic in Birmingham, Ala.
Andrews, who performed the initial surgery on Sanders, has told Colts officials Sanders’ rehabilitation is on schedule.
“(Sanders is) doing well. Dr. Andrews has looked at him and really feels he’s on target and coming along,” coach Jim Caldwell said this week. “He’ll be there for a couple days and when he comes back, he’ll continue on with the process he’s going through here in terms of his rehab.
“He’s making progress. He’s moving forward. He feels good about where he is. Dr. Andrews feels good about where he is. That means I should feel good about where he is.”
Team president Bill Polian told an Indianapolis radio station on Wednesday that he will wait before making a final decision on placing Sanders on the Colts’ 53-player roster or to leave him on the PUP list.
“We would have basically two choices with Bob. Right now, he’s on the physically unable to perform list. And we have to either put him on the physically unable to perform list at the cut to 53 or activate him,” Polian explained. “Now if we put him on PUP, he’s not eligible to come back until the sixth week of the season. And because the bye week is in there, that would really be after our fifth game.
“If we carry him active as one of the 53, he would be eligible to come back at any time we wanted to dress him for the ballgame. He’s, in effect, active but if he was unable to play, would not dress,” he told ESPN 1070.
“Right now, I can’t tell you what list would be most appropriate until we hear from Dr. Andrews and then see what kind of a timetable he’s on. If you had your druthers, obviously, you’d like to have him active and available, if not for the first game, soon thereafter. I mean if I had to guess, I’d say that’s what it would be. But PUP is still available to us, too, if it’s going to be longer than that. Then we could put him on that and bring him back for our sixth regular-season game.
Placekicker Adam Vinatieri continues to make progress in his rehab from offseason knee and hip surgeries. Vinatieri is also on the PUP list.
“He is making real good progress. He’s working diligently at being ready. He’s moving along quickly,” Caldwell said, adding he doesn’t expect any problems for Vinatieri working with a new holder. Rookie punter Pat McAfee has taken over that role from former Indianapolis punter Hunter Smith.
“You know how important that timing is. That is something we are just going to have to work out. As (Vinatieri) starts to ramp up his activity, it’ll all start to work together at some point. By the time he takes the field, those problems will be ironed out.”
Notes: Among those sitting out workouts Wednesday were cornerback Michael Coe (groin), cornerback Jacob Lacey (undisclosed), offensive tackle Jaimie Thomas (knee), running back Mike Hart (ankle), defensive end Raheem Brock (hand), cornerback Kelvin Hayden (hamstring), wide receiver Sam Giguere (leg), tight end Colin Cloherty (foot), offensive guard Ryan Lilja (rest/knee) and safety Matt Giordano (groin). … CB Marlin Jackson (knee) will get some work in Saturday’s preseason game with the Detroit Lions. The status of quarterback Jim Sorgi (hamstring) won’t be known until the end of the week.
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