Report: Andrew Luck Expected to Play in Very Limited Action During Preseason Opener
According to ESPN NFL reporter Ed Werder, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is expected to play in very limited action–likely an offensive series or two against the Green Bay Packers in the team’s preseason opener:
#Colts don't expect Andrew Luck to play much but wanted a series or two with new O and OC Rob Chudzinski
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) August 7, 2016
While head coach Chuck Pagano brought up the possibility that Luck may not play at all in Friday’s training camp practice press conference, it looks as though the Colts want Luck to get more work in new offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski‘s system.
Luck actually played in one game under Chudzinski as an interim offensive coordinator this past season, Week 9 against the Denver Broncos–the same game in which he suffered a season-ending lacerated kidney.
However, it was a scaled back offensive system for Chudzinski, as there was no time midseason to fully implement his offensive scheme with the lack of practices, training camp, and OTA’s beforehand.
Luck actually playing makes some sense too, as he missed the final 7 games of last year’s regular season because of the season-ending injury and has more rust to shake off as it relates to real gametime action than the average NFL player.
This move isn’t about #12 being healthy–the young quarterback is fully healthy these days, but by also in turn limiting Luck, the Colts can hopefully keep him healthy while enabling him to get a little more comfortable under Chudzinski’s new offensive system.
It’s worth noting that the team will be without prized rookie center Ryan Kelly and starting right tackle Joe Reitz could also be held out with an injury, meaning that Luck could be without two of his would-be starting offensive lineman.
If Luck does indeed play, he’ll be the only star quarterback playing in the Hall of Fame Game, as Green Bay Packers superstar quarterback Aaron Rodgers is already expected not to play.