Zak Keefer

zak.keefer@indystar.com

Wednesday at Colts camp: Practice, 1:55-4:10 p.m.; Colts City, 12:30-5 p.m.

ANDERSON — The injury bug has landed in Anderson.

Defensive end Kendall Langford’s out for a month with a bad knee. Safety Clayton Geathers is still hauling a boot around on his right foot. Right tackle Joe Reitz didn’t practice Monday. Neither did nose tackle David Parry.

The silver lining is a small one, but encouraging nonetheless for these banged-up Indianapolis Colts: Second-year defensive end Henry Anderson is progressing nicely. Anderson, you remember, was the other Colt who suffered a severe injury in last November’s win over the Denver Broncos. While the headlines focused on Andrew Luck’s lacerated kidney, Anderson’s torn ACL that day was a crippling setback for one of the Colts’ biggest rookie surprises.

Not only did the team lose its star quarterback that day, it also lost one of their best defenders.

How severe is Kendall Langford's injury?

Anderson began this year’s training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list; that’s where he remains, but his workload has increased since arriving in Anderson. After spending the first week of camp running sprints on a side field, Anderson worked with the trainers on Tuesday, making cuts and jukes on that surgically-repaired knee. It’s the next step in his long rehabilitation process.

And, considering the sudden loss of Langford, Anderson’s return can’t arrive soon enough. The Colts need playmakers on that defensive line. Badly.

Langford’s earliest return won’t be until Week 1. Art Jones is suspended for the first four games.

“He’s ahead,” Colts coach Chuck Pagano said of Anderson’s progress. “He has done a tremendous job. He and our training staff feel like, coaches are putting eyes on him, watching the trainers putting him through individual (work). He is moving great, now it’s just a matter of when do you make that decision to put him into some live action and actually have him take on a double-team. He is going to feel great at some point and they are going to clear him and make him ready for play.

“But again, confidence-wise, when playing that position, until you take on that double-team and feel the weight of 650-700 pounds leaning on you, you really don’t know.”

Kelly returns

Another welcomed sight for the coaching staff Tuesday: Rookie center Ryan Kelly was back in his usual spot, snapping the football to Andrew Luck. After missing about a week of practice with a sore left shoulder, Kelly worked with the first team for portions of practice.

If he continues to progress, there’s a good shot he makes his NFL debut Saturday when the Colts open the preseason in Buffalo.

Doyel: He's here, but for how long?

Butler struggles

Now that safeties T.J. Green and Mike Adams are back to 100 percent, Darius Butler has shifted back to his traditional position of nickel cornerback. If Tuesday’s practice was any indication, he might need a few practices to shake off the rust. Butler was burned more than once.

Tight end Dwayne Allen burned Butler for an easy red zone touchdown early in practice; a few minutes later, wide out Donte Moncrief beat him on a deep route for a long gain.

Adams earned a bit of redemption for the deep backs later in practice, though. In a two-minute drill, Luck lofted a Hail Mary toward the end zone. It essentially turned into a jump ball between Adams and second-year wide out Phillip Dorsett. Adams snatched it right from him.

“35 out-jumping 25!” Robert Mathis shouted from the sideline.

Close. Adams, who has 12 interceptions over the last two seasons, is 35; Dorsett is only 23. But the point was clear.

Call Star reporter Zak Keefer at (317) 444-6134 and follow him on Twitter: @zkeefer.

Wednesday at Colts camp: Practice, 1:55-4:10 p.m.; Colts City, 12:30-5 p.m.