NEW ORLEANS — Marques Colston, the Saints’ top receiver the past two seasons, had surgery on his left thumb and will miss four to six weeks.
Colston said he had a torn ligament resulting from a play Sunday when he reached forward to make a catch while taking a helmet-first hit to his hands from Buccaneers defensive back Ronde Barber.
“I don’t know if my thumb just got caught in an awkward position. It just bent all the way backward,” Colston said. “I guess the only silver lining is that I’m going to have a chance to come back and play a good portion of the season and hopefully be back in time for that playoff push.”
Colston’s absence is expected to open the way for Robert Meachem to dress for a regular-season game for the first time since being drafted in the first round a year ago. The Saints visit Washington on Sunday before facing the Broncos on Sept. 21.
Meanwhile, defensive lineman Hollis Thomas, who was expected to miss the first six weeks of the season with a torn triceps, was placed on injured reserve, ending his season. The Saints signed defensive tackle Alvin McKinley, who played 15 games for Denver last season.
Colts to waive lineman Johnson after drug arrest
INDIANAPOLIS — After Colts starting defensive tackle Ed Johnson was arrested on a drug possession charge, the team said it would waive him today.
Colts president Bill Polian said Johnson was reminded as recently as Tuesday of coach Tony Dungy’s rules of behavior. “Unfortunately, he chose to violate those rules,” Polian said.
Polian said Johnson was stopped for speeding between midnight and 1 a.m. on Interstate 465 just north of Indianapolis on Wednesday. Police also charged him with marijuana possession.
Footnotes.
The 49ers put quarterback Alex Smith, the top pick in the 2005 draft, on injured reserve with a broken bone in his right shoulder and signed 38- year-old Jamie Martin to back up J.T. O’Sullivan and Shaun Hill.
• Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden said quarterback Brian Griese will start Sunday against the Falcons while Jeff Garcia nurses an ankle sprain.
• The Patriots signed quarterback Matt Gutierrez to their practice squad after Tom Brady suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament and a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee in Sunday’s win over the Chiefs.
• The Rams signed former Broncos receiver Eddie Kennison, who has been out of the NFL since Kansas City released him in February.
• The Jets signed tight end Chris Baker to a contract extension that could keep the seven-year veteran with the team through the 2012 season.
• The Seahawks put right guard Rob Sims (pectoral) on injured reserve and signed wide receivers Billy McMullen and Samie Parker, who was released by the Broncos during training camp.
• Sherrill Headrick, a former Dallas Texans and Chiefs linebacker, died of cancer. He was 71.
• The Lions signed receiver Brandon Middleton and put tight end Dan Campbell (hamstring) on injured reserve.
The Associated Press
