ColtPower has learned that middle linebacker Keyon Whiteside was waived by the team prior to the opening of training camp on Sunday. Whiteside had made great progress from a devastating knee injury back in October, 2004.
Whiteside tore his patella tendon and was placed on the injured reserve list. During the 2005 training camp, he was added to the team's reserved/physically unable to perform list.
But after offseason surgery cleared the way for his return, things were looking up for the young linebacker who was the team's fifth-round pick in the 2003 draft.
In May, he worked out with the team during their minicamp. Earlier that month, Whiteside said, "I'm cleared to go, ready to go. They [team doctors] told me that I wouldn't [be able to play again]. They didn't think I was going to be able to walk right again. But I've been blessed. That, and hard work, and everybody did a good job of rehabbing me."
Based on the information we received, there was no injury settlement as part of his release, so it appears that Whiteside is still capable of playing football. The Colts may have simply seen him as too great of a risk after such extensive damage to knee when forced to make some tough decisions as to who to cut at this point to clear some roster space.
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