When the Colts traded for Trent Richardson more three weeks ago, they envisioned a two-headed running attack featuring Richardson and offseason acquisition Ahmad Bradshaw.
Indianapolis lost one part of that equation on Tuesday when the Colts announced Bradshaw would be placed on the injured reserved list and forced to undergo season-ending surgery on his neck.
“Ahmad has obviously seen several specialists, collected a lot of information,” coach Chuck Pagano said. “He’s going to take the next couple of weeks to kind of sit back and decide where he’s going to go with this thing.”
Bradshaw injured his neck in the Colts’ 27-7 win over the 49ers in Week 3. He sat out Indianapolis’ last two victories.
The Colts signed the former Giants running back to a one-year, $1.1 million contract this past offseason, with the hope to pair him with running back Vick Ballard, who enjoyed a breakout season last year. However, Ballard suffered a season-ending injury as well, which necessitated the Richardson trade.
The onus now falls on Richardson and Donald Brown to make up for the losses of Ballard. Richardson has collected 151 yards and two touchdowns, but only a 3.0 yards per attempt, in three games with Indianapolis thus far. Meanwhile, on just 19 carries, Brown already has racked up 157 yards and one touchdown.
Bradshaw ends his season with 41 carries, 186 rushing yards and two touchdowns.