Struggling Colts’ Luck goes on injured reserve

INDIANAPOLIS » Andrew Luck will spend a second offseason recovering from shoulder surgery.

The Indianapolis Colts put Luck on injured reserve Thursday, marking the end of his season and the beginning of a different rehab program that team officials believe will get their star quarterback on the field next fall.

Colts general manager Chris Ballard made the announcement during a sur- prise news conference at the team complex.

“I’ve heard all sorts of rumors about career-ending,” Ballard said. “That’s not the case here. I’ve not got that from one doctor. Career-ending is putting him out on the field before he’s ready to play. That’s where you should be concerned.”

Indianapolis did rush Luck.

After having surgery in January for a partially torn labrum in his throwing (2-6) never shoulder, Luck missed all of Indy’s offseason workouts, all of training camp, the entire preseason and now the entire 16-game regular season.

Luck didn’t even start throwing to teammates until early October and was limited to throwing every other day. Just two weeks later, he was “shut down” because of soreness his right shoulder.

So with the Colts struggling and Luck apparently not ready to play, Indianapolis decided to make the smart, cautious move — even if it wasn’t Luck’s preference.

“I wish I was better and 100 percent this season, but that’s not the case,” Luck told the team’s website, Colts.com. “I know I’ll be better from this. I know I’ll be a better quarterback, teammate, person and player from this, and I’m excited for the future.”

NFL: Elliott appeal has no chance of success

NEWYORK» Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott has no chance with his latest attempt to delay a sixgame suspension for alleged domestic violence, NFL lawyers said Thursday.

The attorneys told the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan it should not interfere with Elliott beginning his suspension Sunday because the NFL Players Association “has no likelihood of success on appeal.”

The union has asked the court to block the start of the suspension until it considers its request to overturn a lower-court ruling on the grounds that Elliott’s career will be irreparably harmed if his suspension begins now.

The league said in a written submission that the public, including NFL fans and victims of abuse, have a “strong interest” in seeing that penalties stemming from domestic abuse by NFL players are promptly investigated and that discipline is imposed in a timely manner.