Wayne's 162 yards, TD lead Colts over Jags 14-12

INDIANAPOLIS -- The pressure on Reggie Wayne is always increasing, and the Indianapolis wide receiver keeps responding.

Wayne already was adjusting to his first season without longtime sidekick Marvin Harrison. Early in Sunday's season opener against Jacksonville, new partner Anthony Gonzalez went down with a right knee injury and did not return.

Unfazed, Wayne played one of the best games of his career, catching 10 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown to help Peyton Manning tie Johnny Unitas with his franchise-record 118th victory and lead the Colts to a 14-12 victory over the Jaguars.

"I don't think I'm going to have this kind of day every week," said Wayne, who had 10 receptions for the ninth time in his career. "I would hope so, but I'll take whatever they give me."

Jim Caldwell, who won his debut as head coach following the retirement of Tony Dungy, said Wayne simply was his usual self.

"He's been playing Pro Bowl-caliber football for a long time," Caldwell said. "It's not anything new in terms of what he's able to do. He doesn't surprise us in that sense, and he shouldn't surprise anybody in this room, because he's always been able to step up."

Gonzalez was supposed to ease Wayne's transition into the unquestioned No. 1 receiver role this season. Gonzalez caught 57 passes for 664 yards last season, and his teammates had consistently spoken with confidence about his ability to step in and flourish as a primary target.

Gonzalez went down without contact while running a route in the first quarter. Colts quarterback Peyton Manning asked Jaguars cornerback Rashean Mathis what he saw.

"I didn't see it," Manning said. "I asked Mathis what happened. He said 'I didn't even touch him.'"

Wayne immediately knew his job had become more difficult.

"That's not what you want to see, especially the first week," Wayne said. "Gonzo's worked so hard to get in this position he's in. For an injury of that caliber to happen is tough on everybody. That's definitely a lot more pressure on me."

Wayne expected extra attention from defenses because the Colts released Harrison in the offseason. Harrison would have counted $13.4 million against the team's salary cap this season, the highest of any NFL receiver. Although Indy wanted to restructure his contract, team president Bill Polian said there was no feasible way to do it.
Losing Gonzalez for an extended period will only makes things tougher for Wayne. The severity of Gonzalez' injury is unknown. If Gonzalez is out for the season, Wayne wouldn't have a problem with Harrison, a free agent, coming back.

"I didn't want Marvin to leave in the first place," Wayne said. "We worked well together."

Wayne instead found himself working with Pierre Garcon and rookie Austin Collie. Wayne thought the young receivers played well, but he felt the offense sputtered and forced the defense to keep the Colts in the game.

Manning threw an interception into the end zone on the first drive of the game, and Joseph Addai lost a fumble at the Jacksonville 35 early in the second quarter. Even though the Colts outgained the Jaguars 365 yards to 228, the Colts had to make a late defensive stand.

"Me personally, I feel like we should have at least had 20-something points," Wayne said.

Wayne's biggest play on Sunday was a 35-yard touchdown reception from Manning in the third quarter. Manning dropped the pass between two defenders.

"Then the touchdown, he is kind of waiting on the ball, the safety is coming over, and he catches it knowing he is going to get hit," Manning said. "Great game by him."

The Colts' bulkier defensive line also held up better against an old nemesis, Maurice Jones-Drew, who rushed 21 times for 97 yards and scored Jacksonville's only touchdown. He had averaged 6.3 yards per carry in six previous games against the Colts.



(miamiherald.com)