Colts lose safety Jamie Silva with season-ending knee injury suffered against 49ers

Colts lose safety Silva for season with torn ACL

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts have lost safety Jamie Silva for the season with a torn ACL, the team announced Monday.

Silva injured his right knee during the second half of Sunday’s 37-17 preseason loss to San Francisco and was helped off the field before going to the locker room on a golf cart with a towel draped over his face.

Having appeared in 25 career games, Silva was one of the Colts most-experienced backups in a young secondary. He made his biggest impact on special teams.

“He’s a guy that certainly has a lot of spirit,” coach Jim Caldwell said after Monday’s non-contact practice. “He runs around and makes a lot of plays for us. It’s tough to see a guy out for the entire season. He’s a quality guy, helped us in a number of different areas.”

Silva is the second Colts defensive back to sustain a serious knee injury. Rookie cornerback and third-round draft pick Kevin Thomas injured his right knee during a rookie minicamp and also is expected to miss the season.

The Colts will have their final two-a-day workouts Tuesday, practicing at 8:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. They will have a short workout Wednesday morning before heading home and then flying to Toronto for Thursday’s preseason game against Buffalo.

Indy also has taken some more hits along the offensive line.

Last week, Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday had arthroscopic surgery and is expected to miss two to six weeks. Left tackle Charlie Johnson has been out with a sprained foot, and rookie offensive lineman Jacques McClendon also missed practice last week with a right leg injury.

All sat out Monday along with two new additions — starting guard Kyle DeVan and backup guard Jaimie Thomas — who were hurt in Sunday’s preseason game.

Pro Bowl tight end Dallas Clark (upper left leg) and linebacker Ramon Humber also sat out with undisclosed injuries Monday. Pro Bowl safety Antoine Bethea was excused from practice because of a death in the family.

Pro Bowl defensive end Dwight Freeney, who sat out Sunday, returned to practice Monday.