Colts’ Luck finally able to practice.

Andrew Luck pulled on that familiar red No. 12 jersey, trotted onto the practice field and got back into his normal Wednesday routine.

A little stretching, a little footwork, even a little throwing. It’s about time. After missing all of the Indianapolis Colts’ offseason workouts, all of training camp, all of the preseason and Indy’s first four regular-season games, the Colts’ quarterback made his long-awaited appearance on the practice field.

“I think we’ve had one (plan) for a long time, so this is just the next progression,” coach Chuck Pagano told reporters before the workout. “Doctors and trainers will let us know (how he’s doing), Andrew will let us know how he’s progressing.”

Yes, Luck’s work will still be limited.

On his first day back, Luck stretched with teammates, participated in some of the quarterback drills and threw some passes at less than full velocity. He’s expected to do more rehab work Thursday before getting back on the practice field Friday.

Luck has already been ruled out of Sunday’s game against winless San Francisco.

“There’s a pitch count and we’ve got it scripted exactly how many routes he’ll throw, inside the number throws, outside the numbers, deep down the field throws, all that stuff,” Pagano said. “So we’ll evaluate every one of them.”

Newton controversy: Quarterback Cam Newton has “expressed regret” for his response to a female reporter’s question at a news conference, a team spokesman said.

When Charlotte Observer reporter Jourdan Rodrigue asked Newton about wide receiver Devin Funchess’ route running, the former league MVP smiled and said, “it’s funny to hear a female talk about routes. It’s funny.”

After Newton’s comments, he proceeded to answer Rodrigue’s question.

Carolina spokesman Steven Drummond said in a statement to The Associated Press that Newton had a conversation with Rodrigue after the news conference ended and expressed regret for his remarks.

Rodrigue released a statement through the Charlotte Observer via email saying that Newton did not apologize when they spoke after the news conference.

Charge in Byrd death: An Oklahoma man has been charged with manslaughter almost a year after a collision killed former NFL player Dennis Byrd.

Rogers County court records indicate the charge was filed Wednesday against 18-year-old Zachary Reed of Claremore, Okla.

Byrd was 50 when he died Oct. 15 after a twovehicle crash north of Claremore, a Tulsa suburb.