Colts should let Reggie Wayne set record, then sit him until playoffs

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Colts' Reggie Wayne will break Peyton Manning’s record for most games played (209) in franchise history once he plays a snap against the Houston Texans next Sunday.

But then the Colts will have a decision to make with Wayne.

Continue to play the 14-year veteran or rest him the final two games to get ready for the playoffs?

The latter is the better option at this point because as good as he’s been during his career, Wayne isn’t helping the Colts.

Not only did Wayne face an uphill battle after suffering a torn ACL last season, but he's also added some injuries this season. Coach Chuck Pagano revealed for the first time Sunday that Wayne is dealing with a torn left tricep, which goes back to when he got injured against Cincinnati on Oct. 19. He missed the Oct. 26 game at Pittsburgh.

The catches Wayne has routinely made during his career are now drops. He only had one catch for 5 yards and three drops against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. His streak of consecutive games with at least three catches ended at 82.

“The elbow, a lot of nagging stuff,” Pagano said. “It’s difficult for anybody to deal with, so is it a byproduct of that? Would I say no to that? No, I wouldn’t. We know how he can contribute and we know how he can make the clutch catches and all those things. He had a tough day and there are a lot of guys that had a tough day [Sunday].”

A sight that has rarely happened during Wayne’s career came in the fourth quarter when the Colts were trying to cut into the Browns’ lead. After dropping a pass across the middle that would have given the Colts a first down deep in Cleveland territory, Wayne was taken out of the game on third down.

You would have never thought that Wayne, Luck’s security blanket, would be taken out of a game where the Colts were trying to come back. But that's where things unfortunately stand with Wayne.

“I basically told myself, ‘You’re doing everything you possibly can to throw this game,’” Wayne said Sunday. “Thankfully my teammates were able to have my back.”

Wayne has eight catches for 46 yards in the past three games.

Pagano avoided answering the question, which is somewhat understandable considering their relationship, when asked if he thinks they should rest Wayne.

“We talk all the time, we communicate with the trainers all the time,” Pagano said. “The lines of communication are always open in regards to all the players, not just Reggie. We’re going to do the best thing for the team that’s going to give us a chance to win, and what’s best for player.”

Pagano was later asked how much he thinks Wayne, a free agent in the offseason, has left in his 36-year-old body.

“How much? I don’t know,” Pagano said. “I know he has more. He’ll deliver and he’ll be back.”


(espn.com)