Colts’ Edds out for season with ACL
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Daily Journal File Photo
A.J. Edds injured his left ACL while participating in a non-contact drill at Colts training camp Sunday.
INDIANAPOLIS — The adversity that has trailed A.J. Edds during most of his brief NFL career has returned.
On Tuesday, the Indianapolis Colts verified that the former Greenwood High School standout will be forced to sit out the entire 2012 season after suffering an ACL injury to his left knee.
“All the hard work and time and preparation these guys have put in and then to come out here and in basically a non-contact drill it happens,” said first-year Colts coach Chuck Pagano, who also lost offensive lineman Ben Ijalana for the season with an injured left knee. “We feel bad for those guys. They’ll be back. They’ll rehab just as hard as they did before, but we look for the next man to step up.”
The 6-foot-4, 246-pound Edds was injured Sunday during the first open practice of training camp at Anderson University.
It’s the latest of disappointments for Edds, a fourth-round selection by the Miami Dolphins in the 2010 NFL Draft. He missed his entire rookie season after tearing his right ACL in training camp.
A clean bill of health meant suiting up for three different franchises in 2011. After being waived by the Dolphins in September, Edds was claimed by New England for what amounted to an 18-day stint with the Patriots.
In that brief span, Edds did experience the first game action of his career, his first pro tackle coming in a 35-21 victory over San Diego in Week 2. Shortly thereafter, the Colts signed Edds off New England’s practice squad.
Edds was utilized primarily as a special teams performer for Indianapolis, but got a chance to step in for former University of Iowa teammate Pat Angerer, who was hurt early in the Dec. 4 game at New England. Edds responded with a career-high tackles. For the season he ended up with 13.
After taking some time off following the season to allow his body to heal, Edds embarked on an intense off-season routine in San Diego with trainer James Wheeler, who proceeded to push his client through whatever mental and physical barriers presented themselves.
By the time May’s schedule of organized team activities came around, Edds was ready.
“With the new coaching staff it’s a new start. The slate is clean and mentally that is good for me because of the way I’m moving around,” he said at the time.
“I feel I’m as strong, quick and mobile as I’ve been in a long time. The work I did put in is showing itself.”
Now, another roadblock.
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