The Indianapolis Colts will be forced to go the rest of the way without Reggie Wayne. Andrew Luck feels partly responsible for that unfortunate truth.
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Wayne suffered a season-ending torn ACL along with a meniscus tear in the Colts' 39-33 win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday night. The veteran wide receiver suffered the non-contact injury while attempting to adjust to a low throw from his quarterback.
"After the game, a big part of me felt like it was a loss in a sense because of what happened to Reggie, and my involvement in it," Luck said, via the Colts' website.
Colts coach Chuck Pagano didn't point any fingers during his Monday press conference, but his disappointment was clear.
"We hate to lose anybody, but this one stings," Pagano said. "You just don't replace guys like 87.
"He'll be back," Pagano went on. "I know how he's wired, I know what his DNA is, I know how he is as a man. Everybody's going to say, 'no way,' but after the conversation I just had with him, just wait and see. We'll all put on the gloves for Reggie and we'll help him get through this and get him back."
Wayne's consecutive games played streak will end at 189, the third-longest active streak in the NFL. Up next is surgery, then a steep uphill challenge to return to form. It won't be easy as his 35th birthday approaches.
As for the Colts, you can expect a wave of speculation about what the team will do to replace their most-trusted playmaker. Hakeem Nicks and Kenny Britt are two potential targets, though we imagine the Colts are wary to part with any more draft picks after sending a first-rounder to the Cleveland Browns for Trent Richardson last month.
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