Jimmy Rollins: Ryan Howard might miss 2012 season

Ryan Howard is still in a walking boot, two weeks after undergoing a procedure to remove an infection near his surgically-repaired left Achilles tendon. Howard was cleared for light exercise Wednesday, but the fact that he is still in that walking boot — maybe for another 7-10 days — is cause for great concern.

Howard keeps towing the company line, saying there’s no timetable and he remains optimistic. However, his infield mate, Jimmy Rollins, had a slightly different take. In an interview with ESPN’s Jayson Stark, Rollins questioned if Howard would play at all this season.

“I don’t know what to think, honestly,” Rollins told ESPN. “If you ask me, with this infection, I don’t know if he’s going to play this year, because after all the work that he’s done, now he’s got to hit the reset button.”

But wait, there’s more …

“Oh, he’s definitely out for two months. I can pretty much guarantee you that,” Rollins said. “And probably nothing before the All-Star break, unless it’s like Albert Pujols’ fracture [which magically healed itself in two weeks last summer].”

Keep in mind, Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. still insists that Howard could return in May. Sure, Rube.