Luck, still battling calf pain, to miss practices
Andrew Luck is still on the mend. Luck will miss the Colts’ next three practices, according to Indianapolis head coach Frank Reich, due to the calf strain that has lingered through the summer and into training camp.
The Colts’ starting quarterback has missed the last seven training-camp practices after suffering a setback in the calf on the fourth day of camp. At the time, Luck had only progressed to 7on-7 drills; he has not taken a snap in 11-on-11 work since the Pro Bowl.
“He’s continuing to progress with the strength,” Reich said. “There still is a degree of pain that he’s not comfortable with. Obviously, we’re not comfortable putting him out there.”
Luck first suffered the injury in April while working out, did not practice in organized team activities or mandatory minicamp and returned to Indianapolis for training camp dealing with pain in the calf and a little bit in the ankle.
According to Luck, imaging has not revealed anything other than a calf strain; his Achilles is not at risk.
“It’s more the calf,” Reich said.
Luck’s absence likely means that he will not take many, if any snaps when the Cleveland Browns arrive in Westfield for joint practices on Wednesday and Thursday.
Once Luck returns to practice, he’ll likely begin with individual drills before progressing to 7-on-7 and then fullteam work, and if he misses all three practices this weekend, that would mean he’d still have to get through individual drills before doing anything competitive against Cleveland.
Indianapolis has not started to make a plan to carry a third quarterback on the 53-man roster for the season opener.
The Colts play the Chargers in a month, and although Reich and general manager Chris Ballard talk a lot about who would make the roster, they haven’t made a definitive plan to keep a third quarterback.
“We remain confident and optimistic on Andrew’s situation, but it’s still day to day,” Reich said. “We’re working through that plan, what’s the best plan for him, what’s the best plan for the team. We’ll adjust if needed.”
Outside of Luck, Indianapolis emerged from Thursday night’s preseason opener with no significant injuries.