Colts' Gonzalez, Sanders working on comebacks

Anthony Gonzalez and Bob Sanders were expected to play key roles for the Colts last season before injuries cut their seasons short.

Their replacements proved to be capable players, so Gonzalez and Sanders now must fight to regain their starting jobs at training camp.

Gonzalez was supposed to get a heavier workload at wide receiver last season after Marvin Harrison didn't return. Instead, he sustained ligament damage in his right knee on a non-contact injury in Week 1 and was done for the season. Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie then starred in the playoffs and helped the Colts reach the Super Bowl.

Sanders, the 2007 AP Defensive Player of the Year, missed the start of the 2009 season after having offseason knee surgery. He returned, but played in just two games at safety before being placed on injured reserve because of an elbow injury. Melvin Bullitt filled in admirably, leaving Sanders with no guarantees.

Gonzalez and Sanders could get their most important test in the Colts' preseason opener at home against San Francisco on Sunday.

''It'll be nice to play a game,'' Gonzalez said. ''I feel like I haven't played a game since high school.''

Sanders has started only eight regular-season games the past two years.

''I'm excited to be back on the team,'' he said. ''There is a position I'm still fighting for, and I have got to keep on working. Melvin did a great job in the last year proving he can play. I just want to make sure I can keep healthy and stay on the field.''

Sanders cleared up any concerns about his long-term status.

''I am as healthy as I have been in a long time,'' he said.

Gonzalez caught 57 passes for 664 yards and four touchdowns in 2008 while becoming a trusted outlet for Peyton Manning. After Gonzalez was hurt in the 2009 opener, he was nearly ready to return to the field several times.

It never happened.

''What probably hurt me the most was my own impatience,'' he said. ''I was probably, let's say I was two or three weeks away from being healthy. I'd try to turn that into one, and boom, I'd have a re-injury. You just can't rush these things. It's a knee injury.''

Gonzalez was impressed by his replacements. Garcon started 13 games last season and had 47 catches for 765 yards and four touchdowns in the regular season. He had 11 catches for 151 yards and a score in the AFC championship game and scored a touchdown in the Super Bowl. Collie, a rookie last season, had 60 catches for 676 yards and seven touchdowns in the regular season and 123 yards receiving in the AFC title game.

''Those guys both did a great job,'' Gonzalez said. ''They stepped up, and we needed them to. Nice for those guys, certainly. That's a nice help for the offense, that's for sure.''

While Garcon and Collie were in the national spotlight, Gonzalez stayed mentally sharp by staying in Indianapolis and attending meetings. He had a setback when he pulled a hamstring during organized team activities in the offseason and didn't feel truly healthy until recently.

''In terms of full-on, no-questions-asked healthy, I'd say about three or four weeks ago,'' he said.

He said he still has good timing with Manning, perhaps a result of a three-day trip to work out with him in Tennessee during the offseason.

''I don't think that's been much of a problem, actually,'' Gonzalez said. ''It's kind of surprised me. I feel pretty good about the work that we've put in.''

Colts coach Jim Caldwell said Gonzalez has excelled during training camp.

''He's done very well,'' he said. ''He's really come along. He certainly understands our offense extremely well, and he's making a lot of big plays, catching the ball well and moving well.''

Caldwell likes the fact that Gonzalez adds depth to an accomplished receiving corps.

''The more weapons we have, the better off we are to be able to give Peyton more options.''

Caldwell said Sanders has had a positive attitude during his recovery.

''He has been energetic all spring long,'' Caldwell said. ''He's been back, he feels good about where he is, good about his body. He's doing a tremendous job not only out on the field, but in the classroom, as well.''

His teammates are glad to see him.

''We are all rooting for him and I know he will be fine,'' defensive end Dwight Freeney said. ''He brings that X-factor out there with how he plays the game. I know receivers and running backs will be a little more cautious.''