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Gonzalez injury overshadows Reggie Wayne's big day

"The bull's-eye on Reggie Wayne's back got exponentially larger late in the first quarter Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Split wide right against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Anthony Gonzalez took a few steps inside to block, then crumpled to the turf. The Indianapolis Colts' veteran receiver -- and Wayne's running mate in the starting lineup -- needed help to get off the field. Gonzalez was out, without being touched, with an injury to his right knee.

The Colts did not elaborate on Gonzalez's injury after their 14-12 win or offer how long he might be out. However, a source close to Gonzalez said he sprained a knee ligament and could miss two to six weeks.

"I sure hope it's not a season-ending injury," quarterback Peyton Manning said. "I hope he's back soon. He's a huge part of our offense."

Now, who will help Wayne?

Against the Jaguars, he was a one-man wrecking crew. He had 10 catches for 162 yards and a 35-yard touchdown on which the bet was whether Manning's pass or Jacksonville safety Sean Considine would get to Wayne first.

It was a matter of Reggie being Reggie, especially against the Jaguars. The 162-yard output was the third-highest of Wayne's regular-season career, and the fifth 100-yard game in his past six outings against Jacksonville.

That, on the heels of him playfully complaining after catching only three passes during the preseason.

"See how it works?" he said, smiling broadly. "When you say something, they listen."

Manning made it clear the game plan included a heavy dose of Wayne, who was the target on 14 of his 38 pass attempts.

"He knew I'd be looking his way and Jacksonville knew," Manning said.

The Jaguars feature cornerback Rashean Mathis, a 2006 Pro Bowl selection, at left corner. That's away from Wayne. Their right-side starter is rookie Derek Cox.

Jacksonville frequently gave Cox deep help from a safety but opted not to have Mathis flip sides to cover Wayne. So it was Wayne vs. Cox on many occasions.

No contest.

"There were some great catches," Manning said.

With the Colts trailing 3-0 and facing a third-and-13 at their own 19, Wayne sprinted down the left sideline, adjusted on Manning's slightly underthrown pass and went over Cox for a 39-yard catch. It was the key moment in an 11-play drive that ended with Joseph Addai's TD."


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