Clark to Undergo Surgery, Will be Placed on Injured
Reserve
After consulting with the Colts' medical staff and second-opinion specialists, tight end Dallas Clark will have wrist surgery next week and will go on injured reserve, the club announced Friday.
"It's unfortunate, but it's been confirmed that surgery is necessary to repair the injury to my wrist," Clark said. "I have met with three great surgeons, Dr. (Arthur) Rettig of the Colts, Dr. (Thomas) Wiedrich in Chicago and Dr. (Thomas) Graham in Cleveland. All three have helped me and my family out tremendously during this process. I look forward to supporting my teammates the rest of this season and rehabilitating my wrist back to full strength for next season."
Clark, an eighth-year veteran, has 37 catches for 347 yards and three touchdowns this season. Clark has 393 career receptions for 4,535 yards and 44 touchdowns, setting Colts career marks among tight ends in receptions and touchdowns. Clark recorded his first career 100-plus-catch season in 2009, earning Pro Bowl honors.
The Colts have three other tight ends on the roster: third-year veterans Jacob Tamme and Gijon Robinson, and rookie Brody Eldridge. Robinson re-signed with the Colts earlier this week.
"Certainly, the guys that we have are the guys that will have to adjust and slide into position to make certain we can sort of fill in for Dallas, who's left a vacancy," Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell said Thursday.
"I prepare every week to get ready to go in there on offense, and we have a real good offense," said Tamme. "I've learned a whole lot from Dal. We'll all get in there and do our best to move the ball and help put points on the board."
Tamme, who also is one of the Colts' top special teams players, caught 10 passes for 133 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie in the preseason. He had two touchdown receptions this past preseason.
"He has assets that allow him to be flexible, to play multiple positions," Caldwell said. "He can play in-line. He can play obviously wide receiver. He can play in the slot. He's a pretty versatile performer."
John Oehser, Special to Colts.com, contributed to this story.
