Colts' Vick Ballard: 'It feels like people just forgot about me'

Indianapolis Colts' running back Vick Ballard made an immediate impact in his rookie year in 2012, rushing for a team-high 814 yards and four touchdowns. But in the seasons that followed, Ballard was stuck watching from the sidelines as the team secured two consecutive division titles.

"I was supposed to be a part of that," Ballard told Zak Keefer of the Indianapolis Star. "Sometimes, it feels like a lot of people just forgot about me."

Ballard has appeared in just one game over the past two seasons because of a torn ACL and Achilles. He's entering the final year of his contract and knows this could be his last shot.

"I was just telling my mom the other day, this could be it for me," he said.

The Colts signed Frank Gore in March to be their primary back and used a sixth-round pick on Josh Robinson. They also have Dan Herron, making it unclear where Ballard will fit in.

"Two years is a long time not to play football, there's no doubt about it," Colts general manager Ryan Grigson said. "The only thing he needs to do is get a devil-may-care mindset. Because if you think about getting hurt, or you're concerned about getting hurt again, then you probably will."

Ballard admits he sometimes lies awake in bed at night pondering his future and whether he'll make it.

"I think about it every day," he said. "It's only natural. There's a fresh new set of players coming in every year trying to take your spot. But like I said, I'm here, every day, speaking to the cleaning crews on my way out. If this is it, if it's over, they're going to have to tell me it's over."