National Football League

Brown has surgery; Ballard to start

Published Oct. 10, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

Ross Jones

Indianapolis Colts running back Donald Brown underwent knee surgery on Tuesday to repair torn knee cartilage, interim head coach Bruce Arians announced.

Although the healing time isn't likely to be significant, Brown is likely to miss two to three weeks. Brown, who is coming off a performance in which he produced his season-high in rushing yards (84) against the Packers, will be replaced by rookie Vick Ballard.

The Colts travel to play the Jets on Sunday, who have been gashed by the run in the past two weeks, giving up 414 yards on the ground combined against the San Francisco 49ers and Houston Texans.

Ballard, a stocky runner from Mississippi State, was taken in the fifth round of this year’s draft and will make the first start of his young career.