"The latest injury and surgery will keep safety Bob Sanders out of the Indianapolis Colts' lineup for the foreseeable future, possibly until the playoffs.

The two-time Pro Bowl selection and 2007 NFL Defensive Player of the Year had surgery Wednesday to repair a torn right biceps tendon. The Colts plan to keep Sanders on the 53-player active roster as they monitor his rehabilitation.

Pinpointing a time for Sanders' return is difficult.

"He had the very same operation on the other arm last year and healed up within somewhere between 10 and 12 weeks,'' Colts president Bill Polian said on NFL Network's "Total Access." "Right now we're leaving him on the 53-man active roster, hoping and anticipating that he'll be back some time before the season ends.''

Michael Thieken, an orthopedic surgeon with Ortho Indy, believes a more realistic timeframe is about four months. That would mean Sanders could miss the remainder of the regular season, but perhaps be back for the postseason.

"The fact he had surgery (Wednesday) makes me think they're thinking about getting him back this year," Thieken said. "They think every day is important."

Addressing the injury is just the first step.

"The tendon has to literally heal to the bone again," said Thieken, who has done numerous biceps tendon repairs, including one last week.

After a period of keeping the arm immobilized so the tendon can reattach, Sanders should start a regimen to regain his range of motion. Then, barring any setbacks, he can begin working on the strength of the elbow and biceps.

"Some (doctors) would tell you they don't let them do much in the way of strength until about 12 weeks," Thieken said. "If he busts through the strengthening, I think he could be back for the playoffs. If anybody can do it, it's somebody like him that not only has the motivation to get back but also has the therapist and all of the modalities."

Sanders' surgery was performed by noted orthopedic surgeon James Andrews and is the second such procedure he has endured in less than a year. He missed the final 12 games last season, including the playoffs, after rupturing his left biceps tendon."