Reggie Wayne Out For The Season With Torn ACL

Reggie Wayne is out for the season with a torn ACL, according to Colts’ coach Chuck Pagano. The wide receiver was injured on Sunday during the team’s home game against the Denver Broncos.

Tests performed on Monday confirmed Wayne’s injury, and the team made an announcement shortly after. Colts owner Jim Irsay also posted his reaction to the loss of the wide receiver for the season on his Twitter account, saying:

“Had a long cry with Reggie….now he’s gonna do what Reggie does…out work everybody and fight n work his way back!”

That will take a while. Reggie Wayne, 34, has played in 189 straight games — the most among all active NFL players and the third longest streak by a wide receiver in NFL history. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be an all-time record, notes ESPN.

Reggie Wayne’s season-ending injury happened in the fourth quarter of Sunday night’s win, when the wide receiver came out of a break to catch a pass from Colts’ quarterback Andrew Luck. USA Today reports that there was no contact in the play, but Wayne’s knee buckled and he fell to the ground.

In making the announcement about Wayne’s injury, Pagano echoed what other Colts’ players, and fans, are thinking. The coach explained, “We hate to lose anybody, but this one stings. You don’t replace guys like 87. But he’ll be back, I know how he’s wired. I know how his DNA is.”

Pagano added, “After the conversation I just had with him, wait and see. We’ll all put on the clothes for Reggie and we’ll help him get it back.” The wide receiver is known as the heart and soul of the Colts’ locker room, but he is also an on-field inspiration. Wayne made his 1,000th reception last week against the San Diego Chargers last week.

Reggie Wayne’s injury typically requires surgery and a lengthy stint in rehab that would extend into the offseason. There was no word on when, or if, Wayne will have surgery.

[Image by Jeffrey Beall via Wikimedia Commons]