Andrew Luck isn’t anywhere close to being healthy enough for practice at the start of camp, and the start of the regular season is now very much in doubt.
When the Indianapolis Colts opened camp, Luck was placed on the PUP list and would not commit to being healthy for Week 1. He told reporters that he had to start throwing a tennis ball before he can throw a football but wouldn’t let on how far along in the process he really is right now, though he did say he sees the “light at the end of the tunnel.”
Light at the end of the the tunnel. pic.twitter.com/hvc8tOxQ3M
— IndyStarSports (@IndyStarSports) July 29, 2017
Now that we’re into the month of August and the NFL season is just over a month away from beginning, it seems more and more likely that Luck absolutely won’t be ready to play in Week 1.
“I’ve heard plenty of rumblings about him starting the year on the physically unable to perform list,” wrote Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports.
If Luck does start the season on the PUP list, then he’ll miss the first six weeks of the season, at the least. That would be good for his long-term health, of course, assuming he makes a full recovery from the injury he suffered way back in 2015.
However, Luck missing the first six games of the season (Colts don’t have a bye until Week 11) could doom them to a third season in a row without making the playoffs.
Behind Luck, Scott Tolzien is the backup. This is a guy who has nine games and three starts under his belt, and he’s thrown just two touchdowns compared to seven interceptions in his career.
The Colts’ success in 2017 depends almost solely on the health of Luck. And at this point it seems he’s going to be at least a little while longer before he can practice, let alone play. So while it’s not quite time to panic, fans should at the least be more than a bit worried about their team’s chances this year.