NEW: Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri undergoes hip surgery

Special to the Tribune-Star

INDIANAPOLIS June 05, 2009 04:09 pm

— Indianapolis Colts officials announced Friday that veteran placekicker Adam Vinatieri has undergone a surgical procedure to relieve a sore right hip. The medical procedure, which was performed in Vail, Colo. late this week, was performed to help correct a condition that had gotten progessively more bothersome over the past year.
"After consultation with our doctors and others, the surgical procedure was deemed the most effective course of action at this time," the team said in a statement. The surgery was performed by Dr. Marc Phillipon, the same orthopedic surgeon who operated on New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez earlier in the spring.
According to the statement released by the Colts, Dr. Phillipon believes that the procedure should not effect Vinatieri's availability during the regular season.
Colts coach Jim Caldwell said Friday that he fully expects Vinatieri to be ready for the team's Sept. 13 season opening game with the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium. Caldwell, however, added that rookie punters Pat McAfee and Tim Masthay both have experience as kickers and could fill in on a short-term basis if needed. McAfee, who played collegiately at West Virginia, was a seventh round draft pick in April.
The first-year head coach said that Indianapolis could also bring in another placekicker later if the situation warrants.

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