Backup quarterback Rudock helps Detroit beat Luck-less Colts

Indianapolis unable to sustain drives with star pivot sidelined due to injury

Jake Rudock showed the Detroit Lions he could fill in for Matthew Stafford — if needed.

The Indianapolis Colts, meanwhile, are still looking for an answer behind Andrew Luck.

Rudock took advantage of the injury-depleted Colts by throwing two touchdown passes to Kenny Golladay, driving the Lions to a short field goal and leading them to a 24-10 victory in the pre-season opener on Sunday.

“You can see the difference between last year and this year at this time,” Lions coach Jim Caldwell said. “He has a better grasp of things around him.”

The second-year quarterback played most of the first 21/2 quarters and wound up 13 of 21 for 142 yards. Stafford played one series, going 2 of 3 for 36 yards and left after throwing an interception.

All the Lions needed against the injury-depleted Colts was Rudock’s 23-yard TD strike to Golladay in the first quarter.

But Rudock also threw a 15-yarder to Golladay in the second and set up Matt Prater for a 28-yard field goal to make it 17-3 at the half. Detroit closed out its scoring with a 15-yard TD pass from Brad Kaaya to Dontez Ford.

With Luck still on the physically unable to perform list following off-season surgery on a partially torn labrum in his throwing shoulder, the Colts sputtered. Indy finished with 230 total yards. Their only points came from Adam Vinatieri’s 42-yard field goal in the first half and a 1-yard TD plunge from Troymaine Pope as time ran out.

DÉJÀ VU

For the second consecutive year, the Colts arrived for their pre-season opener with a stadium in need of a little touch-up paint. But instead of having to cancel the game, like last year’s Hall of Fame game, the field crew cordoned off two areas with the words “NFL Play Football” and fixed them. Team officials said the paint was too thick. A little less than two hours later, the kickoff was right on time.

SITTING OUT

In addition to Luck missing the game, Indy also played without centre Ryan Kelly (foot), left guard Joe Haeg and running back Frank Gore. Among the Lions sitting out were left tackle Taylor Decker and defensive end Ezekiel Ansah, and right guard T.J. Lang.

QUOTABLE

“There are a lot of things to clean up,” Colts coach Chuck Pagano said. “We’re going to grind it. We’ve got to make corrections.”

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Indianapolis’s JoJo Natson, right, is tackled by Detroit’s Charles Washington during the second half of their NFL game Sunday in Indianapolis.