***UPDATE***
Coach Chuck Pagano said after practice that Luck was limited in practice with a right shoulder injury (his throwing arm). When asked what play the injury occurred on, Pagano said “pick one” referring to how often Luck gets hit. Pagano stated that he had soreness in the shoulder and is listed as day-to-day while the team errs on the side of caution with the franchise QB.
Pagano said that injury definitely occurred during the game against Tennessee and he wasn’t dealing with it previously.
The most important player on the Indianapolis Colts roster might be suffering this season. It looks as if all the rough hits that Andrew Luck has taken are finally catching up with the fourth year quarterback. Reports indicate that Luck was limited during the open portion of practice
Ok, gonna say this delicately. Luck is practicing, but took practically no reps in individual portion of practice. Now closed to media
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) September 30, 2015
Obvious question for #colts Chuck Pagano today. Andrew Luck doing very little during early portion of practice open to the media.
— Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) September 30, 2015
Don't want to overreact, but this was not a normal start to practice with #colts Andrew Luck. Usually takes all of the serious reps.
— Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) September 30, 2015
While Andrew Luck stood with arms folded, Matt Hasselbeck threw to No. 1 WRs, Alex Tanney followed. May be something there. May be nothing
— Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) September 30, 2015
Luck has had a rough start to the season and some might say that he looks like he’s playing injured. Late in Sunday’s win over the Titans, backup QB Matt Hasselbeck patted him on the chest and in provoked a strong response. See for yourself:
Ribs maybe? RT @currytk: Luck is definitely hurting. Not good. pic.twitter.com/Kdxw5pDvkf
— AK (@SilentK317) September 27, 2015
That light tap on the chest (with pads mind you) shouldn’t result in Luck looking like he was just punched. He also took a big hit in the season opener against the Bills on an interception and was slow to get up.
Some scouts went so far as to say their was an extra hitch in Luck’s throwing motion that they hadn’t seen before. This would indicate he is compensating for some injury, and it might not even be a conscious movement he’s making.
Luck is normally throwing the ball at will and doesn’t take many snaps off. While this is all speculation from local beat writers, they would have a finger on the pulse of the team and know when the routine is different.
An injury would certainly explain why Luck has looked off his game so far this season. So far this season, Luck is completing just 56 percent of his passes for 753 yards, five touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a lost fumble.
We’ll have more on this story after coach Chuck Pagano speaks to the media and the official injury report is posted.