INDIANAPOLIS – The Colts' early-season injury matters took another turn today when it was determined Ahmad Bradshaw will miss the rest of the season with the neck injury he suffered at San Francisco.
Bradshaw has been placed on injured reserve.
Bradshaw is the fourth Colts offensive player lost for the year. Tight end Dwayne Allen (hip) was injured in the opener against Oakland. Running back Vick Ballard suffered a non-contact knee injury in practice leading into the Miami game, and guard Donald Thomas (quadriceps) was lost just a few plays into that contest.
Bradshaw was a trumpeted free agent signing by Indianapolis in June. He was overcoming a foot injury and was limited to viewing the team's June mini-camp. In training camp, Bradshaw was a spectator as well.
He appeared in the Oakland opener as a backup to Ballard, rushing seven times for 26 yards. Bradshaw started against Miami and totaled 65 yards on 15 rushes, including a one-yard run that put the club ahead just prior to halftime.
After getting 15 snaps against Oakland and 49 against Miami, Bradshaw took 38 at San Francisco in one of the club's most dominant road wins in years. Bradshaw, splitting time with newly-acquired Trent Richardson and long-time backup Donald Brown, had 95 yards on 19 carries, one being a scoring run in the final moments as Indianapolis took a 27-7 victory.
Bradshaw has the club's most rushing yards (186), while Richardson's 51 carries top the club. Richardson, obtained in a trade with Cleveland, has 151 rushing yards and two scores. Brown, the club's top draft pick in 2009, has 157 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries.
Also on Tuesday, Indianapolis waived running back Robert Hughes from the active roster and released running back Kerwynn Williams from the practice squad.
Hughes was signed on September 30 and appeared in one game this season, catching one pass for six yards. He played in five games with Indianapolis in 2012.
Williams was the club's first pick in the seventh round of this year's draft. He appeared in one game and had a 28-yard kickoff return.
