NOTES Luck sore but pain-free after 1st full practice
Indianapolis quarterback Andrew Luck feels as sore and tired as he expected four days into training camp. But he’s also pain free — just as the Colts hoped.
The three-time Pro Bowler passed his first major tests by taking all of his normal snaps during the Colts’ first two workouts and participating in his first full practice in pads in nearly 20 months Sunday.
It’s a good start for the Stanford alum with the surgically repaired right shoulder.
“Every day there will be new hurdles,” he said Sunday at Colts camp in Westfield, Ind. “The second day, things seemed to calm down or slow down a lot . ... It was also very fun to be out there with the guys and focus on getting better at practice and not just surviving practice.”
Thursday, fans roared throughout the workout, even cheering when Luck was throwing to ball boys and quarterbacks. One fan shouted “stay in that pocket” as Luck went through an individual drill designed to help quarterbacks evade oncoming pass rushers.
Luck was 4-for-9 passing with an interception Thursday, in his first 11-on-11 work since having a partially torn labrum fixed in January 2017. On Friday, he was 15-for-19 overall. On Sunday, he was 19-for-22 with two touchdowns in seven-on-seven and 11-on-11 drills.
Luck still must pass a few more milestones such as throwing deep balls and taking hits.
Head coach Frank Reich has said he expects Luck to play in the Colts’ preseason opener on Aug. 9 at Seattle, though Reich has not yet determined how much Luck will play.
No Darnold for Jets fans:
Tied up in a contract stalemate with no resolution in sight, quarterback Sam Darnold wasn’t at the Jets’ first camp session open to the public.
While there were plenty of green and white No. 14 jerseys roaming the practice facility, none were being worn by Darnold, the No. 3 overall pick in the NFL draft.
The rookie is unsigned and staying away from the team. Under the NFL’s slotting system, Darnold will receive a four-year, fully guaranteed contract worth $30.247 million, including a $20 million signing bonus — when he signs. But the dispute seems to hang on contract language, including offsets, which if included can provide the team financial protection if it cuts a player during his rookie contract.
Briefly:
Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones, a Cal alum, returned to practice a day after injuring his left leg . ... Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said starting left guard Ramon Foster’s right knee won’t require surgery. Foster was injured Saturday and left practice on a golf cart.