Colts place James on IR

INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- The Indianapolis Colts finally admitted Edgerrin James is out for the season by placing the star running back on injured reserve.

The move, which was made Wednesday, acknowledges persistent reports that James suffered a season-ending knee injury on Oct. 25 in a 35-28 victory at Kansas City.

"It's not like it's all of a sudden today a shock," coach Jim Mora admitted. "We haven't had him for three games and there always was the chance he wouldn't be back, so we were prepared. But you don't like losing a great football player and a very productive football player."

A two-time NFL rushing champion, James was injured when tackled by Chiefs linebacker Marvcus Patton. He will undergo surgery this weekend to repair a torn ACL, said general manager Bill Polian, who was waiting for James to get a second opinion.

"There was improvement, but they felt that on balance it was better to go ahead with the surgery," Polian said.

James rushed for 662 yards and three touchdowns and caught 24 passes for 193 yards in six games this season. The fourth overall pick in the 1999 draft, he ran for 3,262 yards and 26 touchdowns and had 125 receptions for 1,180 yards and nine scores in his first two seasons.

The 23-year-old James is not expected to participate in next spring's mini-camp while rehabilitating the knee, a process that could take seven months.