Philadelphia (CBS)--Chase Utley once played 126-straight games in college. Last year, due to a thumb injury, he played 115. The talented Phillies' second baseman has always played with injuries throughout his high school, college and pro career.

It seems as if the wear and tear of those decisions are having an effect on the 32-year-old right now. It's reached such a point that it appears highly unlikely Utley will be ready to play on Opening Day.

Phillies Team Physician Dr. Michael Ciccotti issued the following statement regarding Utley's health status:

"Chase has had mild patellar tendonitis and chondromalacia in the past that have previously resolved quickly. His symptoms returned during his off-season workouts, and he developed some anterior knee pain consistent with his prior history.  When he reported to spring training this year, his knee was treated as it had been in the past, however his symptoms continued. An MRI was obtained that demonstrated his prior tendonitis, chondromalacia, and bone inflammation.  His chondromalacia symptoms persisted in spite of focused non-operative care, including a cortisone injection. A subsequent cartilage-specific MRI was obtained confirming the initial diagnosis. Continued non-operative treatment is being carried out and additional opinions will be obtained."

For the time being, that rules out surgery for the Phillies' star. But it doesn't mean surgery would not be an option in the future if the problem persists. Utley has sensed, however, for the last few years that his approach to injuries would have to be different-and far more conservative. In the past, he had no problem playing through the pain of a bad hip or swollen knees.

Since 2008, when Utley played in 159 games, hit a career-best 33 home runs, drove in 104 runs, hit .292—and was hit a career high 27 times by pitches, his numbers have steadily dropped. In 2009, he played in 156 games, saw his batting average dip to .282 and his RBI output fall to 93, all still good numbers, but cracks were apparent.

And last year, he played in 115 games, a season cut by thumb surgery last July, which forced him to hit .275 and see his homers drop to 16 and RBI total fall to 65. This spring, Utley has yet to play in a game after receiving a cortisone shot in his right knee.

Now the announcement Wednesday by Dr. Ciccotti, making Utley's status for Opening Day look very dubious. At least it's a matter the Phillies' brass is willing to address publicly, after a few days of reticence.

"I couldn't tell you one way or another," Phils' general manager Ruben Amaro told reporters. "Our hope is that he is ready for Opening Day. I don't know if that is going to happen. We're still looking and researching who it is we want to get opinions from. We're trying to find the best people to treat this, to give us better opinions."

Amaro said Utley's condition is too painful to play right. "There's too much discomfort right now for him to be playing. Rest might be the best option here," Amaro said.

Before last season, Utley admitted that he was getting older, and that he's going to have to take a sporadic day off to preserve himself for later in the season. He said he would do it within the team concept.

"I'm starting to realize that taking a day off will be necessary and something in the future that I'm going to have to adapt to," Utley says. "But I have to always keep the team in mind and think what's best for the team. If taking a day off gets me prepared and ready for a bigger series, or taking a rest gets me better prepared for the playoffs. Then that's what I'm going to have to do. As I get older, I know I won't be out there every day. But my attitude now is that I want to play every day, not just for myself, but for my teammates, this team and the fans. They expect to see me play hard every day, and if I didn't do that for these fans here, I wouldn't feel right."

Reported by: Joseph Santoliquito