JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) -Richard Collier made an emotional return and the Jacksonville Jaguars got off to a fast start against the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday night.
Collier made his first appearance at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium since he was shot in the early morning hours of Sept. 2.
offensive lineman was paralyzed from the waist down and had his lower left leg amputated because of his injuries. Collier participated in the coin toss and left the field to a standing ovation.
“It was incredible,” said Collier, who was wearing a Jaguars warmup jacket and jeans. “I got chills. I’ve still got chills.”
His return seemed to perk up the Jaguars, who led the Colts 17-7 at halftime. Jacksonville led 14-0 before the Colts got on the scoreboard and then made several big plays late in the half to protect their lead.
The Jaguars scored on their first possession, driving 62 yards on eight plays. David Garrard capped the drive with a 28-yard touchdown pass to Dennis Northcutt with 10:59 remaining. It was Northcutt’s second consecutive game with a touchdown catch. He caught five passes for 127 yards and one score in the Jaguars’ 20-16 victory over Green Bay on Sunday.
That was Northcutt’s first 100-yard game in nearly four years. He got the start because Matt Jones was suspended and Jerry Porter was on injured reserve.
The Jaguars extended their lead to 14-0 by grinding out a 17-play, 93-yard drive that used 9:35. Garrard capped it with a 2-yard run on third-and-goal with 11:37 remaining in the first half.
ining in the half, cutting the lead to 14-7. The Colts appeared poised to tie the game in the final minutes of the first half, but a big play by Jaguars safety Gerald Sensabaugh helped turn the Colts away.
Sensabaugh hammered running back Dominic Rhodes for a 2-yard loss on third-and-1 from the Jacksonville 9-yard line to force Adam Vinatieri to try a 30-yard field goal. Vinatieri pulled the kick just outside the left upright with 1:03 remaining in the half.
The Jaguars capitalized on that mistake. Garrard drove 54 yards on eight plays and Josh Scobee kicked a 44-field goal with 1 second to play. Scobee had missed four of his past seven attempts prior to that kick.
The Colts have won seven consecutive games and would clinch a playoff spot with a victory.
Indianapolis played without receiver Marvin Harrison, who did not make the trip because of a hamstring injury.
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