INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Colts placed kick returner T.J. Rushing and backup tight end Zac Herold on injured reserve Tuesday, ending their seasons, and cut three other players to reach the NFL's roster limit of 75.

Rushing and Herold both injured knees in Sunday night's 20-7 loss to Buffalo.

Rushing, a seventh-round pick in 2006, averaged 23.0 yards on kickoff returns and 13.1 on punt returns, including one that went for a touchdown last season. He was hurt while covering the Colts' first punt against the Bills.

“He has a ligament injury that will keep him out all year,” coach Tony Dungy said. “It was really just one of those freak things.”

Herold, a free agent from Nebraska-Omaha, had looked good in camp and appeared to be vying for one of the 53 roster spots.

Indy also released kicker Adam Crossett, linebacker Marcus Richardson and running back Clifton Dawson.

Dawson, from Harvard, was the biggest surprise. The Colts released him in their final cutdown last year, and he then signed with Cincinnati. In late September, Indy re-signed Dawson and he wound up with 30 carries for 64 yards and one touchdown and had two receptions for 15 yards as a rookie.