Colts WR Gonzalez is near a return

After spraining ligaments in his right knee during a season-opening 14-12 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez is now nearly ready to put on his Colts jersey and make a return during season.

Gonzalez caught 57 passes for 664 yards last season, and he was primed to take over the No. 2 receiving spot after Marvin Harrison was released in the offseason. But unfortunately the non-contact injury derailed those plans. The good news came on Thursday when Coach Jim Caldwell said that Gonzalez could practice this week.

“It’s kind of a day to day thing,” Caldwell said. “He’s been feeling really good. He has not obviously practiced to this point, but we do feel that he’s going to start shortly. When that is, I’m not certain.”

Other Colts player who are expected to return include safety Bob Sanders, who missed all of training camp, preseason and the first month of the regular season after surgery on his right knee, starting cornerback Kelvin Hayden, who missed the last three games with a left hamstring injury, and left tackle Charlie Johnson, who who sat out the Tennessee game with a left knee injury. All the three are expected to play this Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Rams.

Baskett will be replacement to injured Colts WR Gonzalez

The Indianapolis Colts had to choose former Eagles WR Hank Baskett to replace their starting wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez, who sprained ligaments in his right knee and would have to be out for up to two months.

The third-year receiver Gonzalez was injured during the 14-12 victory over Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Coach Jim Caldwell said that he would be out longer than the Colts first feared, so they had to find a proper replacement and their choice is Baskett.

"Since Anthony's going to be out a while, hopefully we can catch him up as soon as possible," QB Peyton Manning said about Baskett. "It's a lot of offense to learn in a couple of days, but he's a veteran, so he could help us."

Baskett is 6-4, 220 pounds and is bigger than any other Indy receiver. His joining will give the Colts some intriguing possibilities. His records with the Eagles were 72 career receptions for 1,052 yards and six TDs.