Indianapolis Colts News: Colts Will Start Vick Ballard Sunday Versus New York Jets

The Indianapolis Colts have received a lot more attention in the 2012 seasom, and much of the attention can be attributed to the arrival of quarterback Andrew Luck.

The prominent rookie has thrown for 300 or more yards in three games this season, and has helped lead the Colts to a win over the Minnesota Vikings, to go along with the thrilling 18-point comeback against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.

Luck may have trouble continuing his impressive run with running back Donald Brown sidelined for the next two-to-three weeks as the team's leading rusher underwent surgery to repair torn cartilage in his knee on Tuesday.

Brown was enjoying a solid start through four games by rushing for 239 rushing yards and one touchdown. Luck is second on the team with 104 rushing yards, and lagging far beyond at No. 3 is rookie Vick Ballard.

The fifth-round draft pick has rushed for only 42 yards on 21 carries this season, and will start Sunday against the New York Jets, a team ranked No. 31 in rush defense.

Ballard appears to be the only serious option for the Colts, who entered the season with a rather thin running game. The Colts also have reserves Mewelde Moore, who has just three carries this season for negative two yards, and Delone Carter, who had 101 carries in 2011, but none in 2012.

Moore, a nine-year veteran, signed with Indianapolis in the offseason after four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but has only taken more than 100 snaps in a season twice.

Ballard could be in for a tough challenge, as the Colts have multiple offensive linemen nursing injuries. Guards Seth Olsen and Joe Reitz are listed as "out" with knee injuries, and center Samson Satele is considered questionable.

Satele is the lone starter on the depth chart, and with Olsen and Reitz sidelined the Colts may have to shift around the line to protect Luck and give Ballard holes to run through.