After layoff, Colts’ Luck to start at QB at Seattle
Andrew Luck spent two straight offseasons contemplating how it would feel to play football again.
He’ll find out Thursday night.
Head coach Frank Reich announced Tuesday that the Stanford alum would start and could play most of the first quarter in the Colts’ preseason opener at Seattle.
“I’ll be excited and a little nervous,” Luck said after practice. “There were one or two moments where I wondered if, ‘Am I ever going to be able to do this again?’ ”
He wasn’t the only one asking that question during a nearly 600-day wait between starts. And he’s not the only one who will be nervous lining up against the Seahawks’ traditionally strong defense.
Much has changed since Luck performed in a televised game.
There’s a new general manager and a new head coach in town. There has been another offense installed and Luck is still trying to learn everybody’s names. But he can’t wait to see how it all works together — even if it takes an entire preseason to work out the kinks.
“Every day I feel a little bit better about my technique in those team drills,” he said. “And also I feel better, I feel stronger, I feel more fit, I feel like my arm has a little more in it and a little more in it and a little more in it.”
Luck initially hurt the right shoulder in September 2015 against Tennessee, missed the next two games, then returned to make four more starts before sustaining a season-ending lacerated kidney. Instead of opting for surgery immediately, Luck decided to rest the shoulder. When the pain persisted, he played through it — making 15 starts and turning in arguably his best season as a pro in 2016 before undergoing surgery.
Indy expected Luck to return last season, but he didn’t start throwing until early October and was shut down two weeks later after he mentioned more pain. He went on injured reserve in November and didn’t resume throwing footballs again until May.
Briefly: Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa left practice early Tuesday because of a left foot injury. Head coach Anthony Lynn did not speak to reporters following practice, but Bosa was not expected to play in the team’s preseason opener at Arizona on Saturday . ... Cleveland rookie receiver Antonio Callaway was cited early Sunday morning for marijuana possession and driving with a suspended license.