Ahmad Bradshaw Injury: Updates on Colts Running Back's Leg and Return

Running back Ahmad Bradshaw is recovering from a broken leg he sustained during the Colts' 42-20 loss to the New England Patriots in Week 11. He has been placed on IR.

Continue for updates.

 Tuesday, Nov. 18

Bradshaw Placed on IR

The Colts provide an update on Bradshaw's roster status:

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The Indianapolis Colts today signed free agent return specialist Josh Cribbs and free agent tight end Weslye Saunders to the active roster. The team placed running back Ahmad Bradshaw on Injured Reserve and waived outside linebacker Victor Butler.

 

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Monday, Nov. 17

Bradshaw Diagnosed With Broken Fibula

Chuck Pagano updated Bradshaw's injury following Sunday night, via Kevin Bowen of Colts.com and Mike Chappell of The Indianapolis Star:

Trent Richardson Speaks on Bradshaw's Injury

ESPN.com provides fellow Colts running back Trent Richardson's comments on the Bradshaw injury:

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To see a brother go down, especially one I'm around all day, every day, is real tough. That's a brother, and it's heartbreaking to see a guy down like that. We're going to see what they say [Monday], but at the end of the day, we have his back.

Whenever he gets ready to come back, if he does this year or next year, whenever it is, there's going to be open doors for him.

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Sunday, Nov. 16

Bradshaw Exits Week 11 with Ankle Injury

Bradshaw's career revival hit a snag when the Indianapolis Colts running back went down with an injury in the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots on Sunday night. 

According to ESPN's Mike Wells, Bradshaw suffered an injury to his left ankle:

Coach Chuck Pagano provided an update on Bradshaw after the game, via George Bremer of The Herald Bulletin:

Steve Andress of Colts.com added: 

Even though Trent Richardson has had more carries in Indianapolis this season (115 to 90 attempts), Bradshaw has been the more efficient and effective runner. He's the explosive part of the running game, while Richardson tends to supply the power and gets most of the goal-line carries.

Bradshaw missed 13 games last season with the Colts due to a neck injury, which prompted the team to trade a first-round pick to Cleveland for Richardson. This is the first time the 28-year-old has been healthy with Indianapolis, and the results showed.

Bradshaw told Curt Cavin of The Indianapolis Star in September that his goal was just "to prove to everybody that I can stay healthy and be a part of this team, a big part of this team."

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Dating back to his final season with the New York Giants two years ago, Bradshaw was excellent. He had 1,015 yards on 221 carries with six touchdowns, but the team released him after the year due to salary-cap constraints.

Bradshaw has also been a factor in Indianapolis' passing game. He served as a safety net for Andrew Luck, as well as an underrated pass-catcher out of the backfield. The eighth-year Marshall product had five touchdown catches in his first six weeks (six passing TDs total), becoming the first Colts running back to hit that mark since Edgerrin James' second year, per ESPN Stats & Info:

Luck is so effective at distributing the ball to anyone on the offense that his performance shouldn't suffer. However, the Colts' rushing attack will certainly lose something without Bradshaw in the lineup.

The 6-4 Colts finish the season with games against the Jaguars, Redskins, Browns, Texans, Cowboys and Titans.