Colts confident QB Luck will be able to play

INDIANAPOLIS — Despite many dire predictions about the status of Andrew Luck, the Indianapolis Colts are steadfast in their belief that the oft-injured quarterback will be ready for the season.

Luck hasn’t started throwing again after missing all of last season because of shoulder surgery, but the Colts expect him to participate in their offseason program that starts in April.

Colts coach Frank Reid answered “absolutely” Wednesday when asked if he anticipates the Houston native playing this season.

And that opinion was seconded by Colts general manager Chris Ballard at the NFL scouting combine.

“Do I have any doubt that he’s going to be ready? No, I don’t,” Ballard said.

Colts fans won’t feel secure, though, until Luck is back on the field and regains his old form.

“The one thing we will not do with Andrew is we will not skip a step,” Ballard said. “Every step that he’s taking right now has a purpose behind it. And we feel good about where he’s at right now. Even though he hasn’t picked up a football right now, he’s doing some things that show us he is where he is and he’s going in the right direction.”

Vikings GM says he believes in Keenum

Unless they re-sign Case Keenum, the Minnesota Vikings will be in the market for a new quarterback.

Keenum and the starter he replaced, Sam Bradford, have contracts expiring March 14. After replacing the injured Bradford early last season, Keenum led the Vikings to the NFC Championship Game.

Vikings general manager Rick Spielman was asked if he thinks Keenum is capable of another 10-win season. It was pointed out to Spielman that coach Mike Zimmer never fully committed to Keenum as the starter for the remainder of the season, only on a week-to-week basis.

“I would say that if we didn’t believe in Case Keenum and what he was able to accomplish — I’ll keep those personnel discussions internally — but Case came in, led our team (and) did a phenomenal job.

“He has a knack for making plays. He made a lot of big plays for us because of not only his smarts, his leadership, but his mobility, as well. I know we’ve had internal discussions with how he fits with some of the things (new offensive coordinator John DeFilippo) wants to do.”

For now, Fiedorowicz ‘is still with us’

Last month, Texans tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz said he might retire because he suffered three concussions last year but added that he planned to report for the offseason program April 2 and participate in organized team activities (OTAs).

“I don’t think any decision’s been made in that regard relative to C.J.,” coach Bill O’Brien said. “We’re looking at our roster (and) we’re talking to a lot of different players … as far as the coaches are concerned right now, C.J. is still with us.”

Coach says Broncos will fix QB problems

Denver Broncos coach Vance Joseph acknowledged that the quarterback position needs to be upgraded. Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch are the incumbents on the roster.

“That’s got to get fixed, and again we can fix that also by playing better around that position,” Joseph said. “But we’re going to address that, obviously in free agency or the draft. “We have to play better at the quarterback position.”

Because of NFL tampering rules, Joseph navigated carefully when asked directly about Washington’s Kirk Cousins, who is expected to be pursued by the Broncos, Jets, Vikings, Cardinals and potentially others.

“He’s a Washington Redskin at the moment, so I can’t speak to that,” Joseph said. “But obviously watching the guy over the years, he’s a good football player. He’s thrown for over 4,000 yards the last three years, and that’s tough to do in this league. He’s a good one, but I’ll leave it at that.”

Steelers’ Shazier out for season

In the wake of a devastating spinal injury, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier won’t play football next season, Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said.

Shazier has said he hopes to resume his career, but he’s still not walking on his own after undergoing spinal stabilization surgery in December. He was shifted to an outpatient therapy program after being discharged from a rehabilitation center at the start of February.