INDIANAPOLIS — Reggie Wayne’s 2013 season officially came to an end Tuesday with the Indianapolis Colts placing the wide receiver on injured reserve.
Wayne suffered a torn ACL in his knee during Sunday night’s victory against Denver. Cornerback Jalil Brown was signed to fill his roster spot and help fortify a secondary that was banged up against the Broncos.
Cornerbacks Darius Butler (calf), Greg Toler (groin) and Josh Gordy (groin) are all considered day-to-day, as is safety Delano Howell (neck).
Brown was a fourth-round pick by Kansas City in 2011 who has played in 29 career NFL games.
Wayne, 34, will undergo surgery in the near future, with the goal of returning in 2014.
“We hate to lose anybody, but this one stings,” Colts coach Chuck Pagano said Monday. “You just don’t replace guys like (No.) 87. And again we hate to lose anybody. But he’ll be back.
“I know how he’s wired. And I know what his DNA is, know how he is as a man. Everybody’s going to say, ‘No way (to a return to a team next season).’ But after the conversation I had with him, just wait and see. So we’ll put on the gloves for Reggie and we’ll help him get through this. We’ll get him back.”
After he undergoes surgery, Wayne will still remain a valuable member of the Colts organization this season.
“He’s going to have to have something done, surgically, but what I told him is that whether it’s on a stretcher, a wheel chair, we have to carry him in and out, he’ll be there (with the team) every step of the way,” Pagano said.
“He’s a pro through and through. I told those young (receivers) to get in his hip pocket and follow him. Do exactly what he does on a daily basis. Do you stick around (in the NFL) for a long time? Want to be productive? You want to write your own legacy? You want to be a guy in the NFL and not an also-ran? Then just do exactly what Reggie does. From a leadership standpoint, mentoring standpoint, it’s off the charts.”
While talking about Wayne’s injury, the second-year head coach who has known Wayne since their days together at the University of Miami became emotional.
“We’ve known each other for a long, long time. The way he is, the first thing out of his mouth is that he feels as if he let his teammates down because he can’t be there now,” Pagano said.
“That’s how unselfish this guy is. He could give a hoot about the numbers, all that stuff. He just wants to play and help us win a championship. That’s what he’s dealing with right now. I don’t feel any worse than the rest of them guys in the locker room and from the owner on down about what happened to him. It’s a travesty.”
Despite the injury, the Colts coach has no doubts that Wayne will return to the team next season ready to resume his career.
“Just look in a man’s eye. And when he tells you he’s going to do something. I’ve known him for a long time, watched him work over the years. When he says ‘I’ll be back,’ I trust he’ll be back,” Pagano said.