Injuries to centers in the NFL don’t usually get a lot of attention. But then, not all centers are like the Indianapolis Colts Jeff Saturday, a four-time Pro Bowl veteran who is the widely acknowledged anchor of the offensive line.

Details on the injury are sketchy right now. The AP has not even been able to determine which knee underwent the surgery, despite several calls to Colts coach Jim Caldwell and the medical staff. Two to six weeks is a wide margin for error and Indianapolis Colts management won’t narrow things down any further than that.

They point out that Saturday is a quick healer, having come back from a torn MCL in 28 days in 2006, opting not to have season-ending surgery.

Replacing him will be third-year center Jamey Richard, who hasn’t started a game in center position since November of 2008. As the center is responsible for directing blocking assignments, including making last-minute changes to offensive schemes, Richards will have his work cut out for him. He expressed his confidence in his ability to handle the assignment, saying “it’s just something you’ve got to learn.”

Mike Pollak, one of college football’s top centers, would play in place of Richards, but he’s been playing at guard since he came to the Colts. However, Pollak says he’s sure it would come back to him if he were required to play at his old position.

Coach Caldwell isn’t sure what he’ll do when the Indianapolis Colts open against San Francisco on Sunday. The Colts typically only play the starting offensive line for 10 plays, but this number may increase so Richards can adjust to his position and the rest of the line can adjust to him.

The Indianapolis Colts left tackle, Charlie Johnson, suffered a sprained right foot in Friday’s practice and had to be carted off the field. The team says he’s getting better, but they’ve given no date on which he’ll be back.

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