Reggie Wayne Injury: Updates on Colts Star's Elbow and Return

Updates from Monday, Nov. 3 

Reggie Wayne is officially active for tonight's game against the Giants confirms Colts owner Jim Irsay via Twitter:

Updates from Saturday, Nov. 1

Kevin Bowen of Colts.com provides an update on Reggie Wayne's status for Week 9:

Mike Chappell of RTV has an update on Wayne's status at Saturday's practice:

Updates from Friday, Oct. 31

Stephen Holder of The Indianapolis Star has an update on Wayne's status at practice Friday:

Updates from Thursday, Oct. 30

Steve Andress of Colts.com has an update on Reggie Wayne's status:

Mike Chapell of RTV provides head coach Chuck Pagano's thoughts on the wideout's injury: 

Updates from Monday, Oct. 27

Chuck Pagano updated Reggie Wayne's status heading into Week 9, via Steve Andress of the Colts:

Updates from Friday, Oct. 24

Stephen Holder of The Indianapolis Star confirmed that Reggie Wayne will miss this week's game at Pittsburgh:

Earlier, Mike Chapell of RTV 6 in Indianapolis provided an update on Wayne:

Updates from Thursday, Oct. 23

Stephen Holder of The Indianapolis Star has an update on Wayne's status:

Updates from Wednesday, Oct. 22

Stephen Holder of The Indianapolis Star passed along comments from Chuck Pagano on Reggie Wayne's status at practice:

Pagano also spoke about the severity of Wayne's injury, via Mike Wells of ESPN:

Updates from Tuesday, Oct. 21 

Jake Query and Derek Schultz of WNDE 1260 AM provides an injury update from Reggie Wayne:

"

Wayne on practicing this week: "It's way too early to know. But, I can tell you not to panic. I'm going to be alright."

— Derek Schultz (@Schultz1260) October 21, 2014"

Mike Chappell of RTV 6 and ESPN's Mike Wells have more from Wayne, who spoke about his potential availability: 

Original Text:

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne may miss Sunday's showdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers due to an elbow injury. 

Mike Chappell of ABC 6 in Indianapolis reported the unfortunate news:

"

The Indianapolis Colts might be without Reggie Wayne at least for Sunday’s game at Pittsburgh.

A source with knowledge of the situation said that while the injury to Wayne’s left elbow doesn’t appear to be serious, it could force him to miss a game or two. Coach Chuck Pagano didn’t reveal the results of a magnetic resonance imaging test on Wayne’s elbow during his Monday press conference.

"

Wayne stuck with the Colts when the organization was in a massive transitional phase, beginning with the selection of quarterback Andrew Luck No. 1 overall in the 2012 NFL draft. The faith Wayne kept in the Colts was vindicated when the team put together back-to-back 11-win seasons in each of the past two years.

But a torn ACL cut short Wayne’s 2013 campaign, putting his future on the gridiron in jeopardy. Indianapolis is seeking to take the next big step in its promising future with Luck pulling the trigger on offense, and having Wayne's services is vital to that cause.

During training camp, Wayne asserted he was on track in recovering from the injury that caused him to miss his last nine regular-season games and the most recent NFL playoffs, per Colts.com's Kevin Bowen:

"

As far as the rehab part, I've ran every route. Either it was here in Indiana, in Indianapolis or it was down in Miami. I've grabbed coaches and trainers down at the University of Miami and I've said, 'Alright, I know you wanted to be a DB at some point in your life, this is your chance to do it.' They did their best and I've done everything I wanted to do. I've run every route and there is nothing that's holding me back. There's nothing that's keeps me from doing whatever it is they want me to do so I'm here. Knock on wood I stay on top of this and keep going from there.

"

Rookie receiver Donte Moncrief, along with free-agent addition Hakeem Nicks, will be among the players asked to step up in Wayne’s stead if he can’t return to the field soon. Production may be easier to replace than the leadership Wayne brings as the only truly seasoned pro in the Colts’ receiving corps.

ESPN analyst Phil Savage commented in March about the offensive weapons Indianapolis possesses:

It does help that T.Y. Hilton has come into his own and evolved alongside Luck, but the Colts need all of the help they can get from a playmaking standpoint.

Wayne is as steady and sure-handed of a possession receiver as any in the league, so his absence eliminates a supremely reliable option for Luck to find in clutch situations.

Given how competitive Wayne is to have sustained NFL success for so long and how positive the Colts’ overall outlook is moving forward, he will do everything in his power to return soon. Before the knee injury last year, Wayne had played all 16 games in the previous 11 seasons.

In the meantime, the onus falls even more on Luck to be a true field general, take command of the offense and inspire his teammates to get to where they want to go, which is in the thick of the quest for the Lombardi Trophy.