Colts’ Quarterback Luck Might Be Done For The Season
Indianapolis Colts’ owner Jim Irsay might want to stay in better communications with the people that run his team. After raising the hopes of Colts’ fans by claiming that injured quarterback Andrew Luck might be able to play against the Houston Texans this Sunday just about every other relevant source close to the team denied that. In fact, the prevailing wisdom is that Luck might not play again this season.
The Colts finished 11-5 in 2014 and entered this season with high expectations of improvement–possibly a Super Bowl appearance. Instead, the season has been disastrous and its small consolation that they still might back into the playoffs due to the sorry state of the AFC South (the division has a combined record of 20-32-0). The Colts are 6-7 and are tied with the Houston Texans for first place in their division. If the season ended today, the Colts would make the playoffs due to the tiebreaker. It’s a sad statement on the NFL playoff system that the Colts could make the playoffs but the Pittsburgh Steelers at 8-5 might not. If the season ended today Pittsburgh would be on the outside looking in.
Andrew Luck was already having his worst season as a pro when he suffered a lacerated kidney in Week 9. There’s no timetable for his return to game action and he’s hoping to just return to practice sooner rather than later. He says that he still doesn’t feel 100%. Luck has been ‘shut down’ to the point where he can’t run or participate in stressful workouts as it pumps more blood through the kidneys putting the under stress. For his part, Luck says that he’ll play this season but ultimately that’s a decision to be made by medical and team personnel.
Making matters worse–veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has replaced Luck as the starter despite his own litany of injuries. He left the stadium with his arm in a sling after the Colts’ 51-16 loss to Jacksonville on Sunday. Currently, head coach Chuck Pagano says he’s ‘day to day’ but that he likely won’t practice until Thursday. If Luck can’t play it’ll be former Clemson Tiger Charlie Whitehurst at quarterback for Indianapolis.