Henry Anderson waits, watches as Colts start camp

• Thursday at training camp: Practice, 1:55-4:40 p.m.; Colts City, 12:30-5 p.m.

ANDERSON, Ind. – The waiting is the worst part.

Healing is a process and Henry Anderson understands this. But after storming onto the scene as a rookie defensive tackle with the Indianapolis Colts last season, the last thing he was interested in doing as his teammates began training camp Wednesday was watching.

“I’m really tired of rehabbing and really want to play football again,” Anderson said. He underwent surgery to repair a torn knee ligament in November and is sidelined for the time being.

“I think standing around watching is tougher than playing football,” he said.

Just how long he’ll be watching remains a question for the Colts. Anderson has no specific timetable to be activated from the preseason physically unable to perform list. The Colts are making good on their promise to be conservative with Anderson’s comeback. They’re not promising he’ll be back a week from now, nor are they committing to him playing in the season opener on Sept. 11.

The plan is for Anderson to play when, and only when, he’s ready.

“We’ll listen to the docs. And when they say they’re ready to go, we’ll put them into action,” coach Chuck Pagano said of his injured players, a list that includes starting safety Clayton Geathers, who sustained a foot injury in pre-camp workouts.

“(Anderson) took no vacation. He’s been here nonstop. The docs are hopeful. I’m hopeful. But there’s no telling on these things. Even when we do bring him back ... until you get out there and play the position that Henry plays – he’s going to be taking on double teams, 600, 700 pounds on him coming off the ball – you have to get confidence to put that foot in the ground.”

When Anderson finally is cleared, the confidence factor will be important in his returning to form. Even though doctors have told him that the ligament will be as strong as ever after the surgical repair, the brain thinks what it wants. And that will require some adjustment from Anderson.

“Bodies are going to be falling around me and I’m going to want to protect myself,” Anderson said. “It’s definitely going to be a mental thing when I get back out there. … I know once I’m out there, with the speed of the game being so fast, that I’m going to be protecting it in the back of my mind.”

But challenges aside, playing sure beats watching.

Follow IndyStar reporter Stephen Holder on Twitter: @HolderStephen.

Thursday at training camp: Practice, 1:55-4:40 p.m.; Colts City, 12:30-5 p.m.