INDIANAPOLIS -- Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri had surgery on his right hip this week and is expected to be ready for the regular season.
Vinatieri, one of the NFL's great clutch kickers, was treated by Dr. Marc Phillipon, who operated on Yankees star Alex Rodriguez.
The Colts have not given a timetable on how much time Vinatieri may miss, other than to say he should be able to play in the opener Sept. 13 against Jacksonville.
"I kind of would fall back to Dr. Phillipon's directions and he said he would be ready for the season," coach Jim Caldwell said. "So we'll follow his lead in that regard."
The Colts said Vinatieri had discomfort in his hip for more than a year and the pain had become more bothersome. Team president Bill Polian said Vinatieri was in Vail, Colo., where he had the surgery.
Vinatieri made the winning kick in two of New England's Super Bowl victories and made the tying and winning kick against Oakland in a blizzard during the Patriots' first Super Bowl run. Vinatieri has four Super Bowl rings in 13 NFL seasons.
In other medical news, cornerback Marlin Jackson participated in drills and is ahead of schedule after anterior cruciate ligament surgery in December. Running back Mike Hart also is expected to be ready for the regular season after ACL surgery.
Former Pro Bowl running back Joseph Addai has missed offseason workouts because of arthroscopic knee surgery.
"It's been feeling better," he said.
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press
