Ahmad Bradshaw optimistic of playing in 2014

Ahmad Bradshaw has said that he hopes to play in the 2014 NFL season.

The Indianapolis Colts running back sustained a neck injury in the third week of the current season which required surgery, ruling him out for the rest of this campaign.

The 27-year-old told the Indianapolis Star: "I feel like I might be able to play if I could. I feel great coming out of surgery. I just feel like I needed it.

"[The doctors] said they took that bulging disc off my spinal cord and my blood pressure and everything just dropped.

"There was a lot of stress and everything built up in my body from that. That being the biggest nerve in your body, it was pretty serious. But I feel good now."

Bradshaw, who will become a free agent at the end of the season, managed 186 rushing yards and two touchdowns in his three appearances for the Colts in 2013.