Luck free of pain, back in pads
Andrew Luck says he feels as sore and tired as he expected four days into training camp.
He’s also pain free — just as the Indianapolis Colts had hoped.
Luck passed his first major tests by returning to the practice field, taking all of his normal snaps during the Colts’ first two workouts, connecting with receivers on the run rather than throwing at stationary targets while feeling good physically and mentally.
It’s a good start for the quarterback with the surgically repaired right shoulder.
“Every day there will be new hurdles,” he said yesterday. “The second day, things seemed to calm down or slow down a lot. The first day I was nervous, I was excited and there was a certain element of the unknown. I wasn’t quite sure what was going to happen. It was also very fun to be out there with the guys and focus on getting better at practice and not just surviving practice.”
The angst could be sensed all around the Colts’ new camp site in Westfield, Ind..
The early jitters also impacted Luck’s performance.
He was just 4-of-9 with an interception in his first 11-on11 work since having a partially torn labrum fixed in January 2017. On Friday, he was 15-of-19 overall.
Colts coach Frank Reich hopes to have injured offensive tackles Anthony Castonzo and Austin Howard back “pretty soon.” Neither has practiced yet and only eight of the 15 offensive linemen practiced over the weekend.
Jenkins’ focus is on field
New York Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins has been trying to keep his focus on football since the body of a 25-year-old friend was found in his New Jersey home last month.
Jenkins’ brother, William H. Jenkins, was charged with aggravated manslaughter days after the body of Roosevelt Rene was found in the football player’s Fair Lawn home on June 26.
Addressing the media yesterday for the first time about the death, Jenkins said he has not spoken to his brother since he was arrested by New York State Police late last month. He reiterated that he was not in the house when Rene died.
“My main focus has always been football,” Jenkins said. “Things that happened, I can’t control, because I wasn’t there. Just coming back, being with my team, just being excited to be there.”
He is entering his third season with the Giants after signing a five-year, $62.5 million contract as a free agent.
Blount hurt for Lions
The Detroit Lions had a key player on offense come back from an injury and one walk off the field during practice. Wide receiver Marvin Jones returned to practice a day after injuring his left leg.
Running back LeGarrette Blount, meanwhile, slowly walked off the field with a trainer during yesterday’s practice. It was not clear why the former Patriot went back inside the team’s training facility . . . .
The Seattle Seahawks signed receiver Marvin Bracy, who represented the United States in the 100 meters at the 2016 Rio Olympics and is a three-time U.S. indoor champion in the 60 meters.