When asked whether Jay Glazer’s report of fractured ribs was indeed accurate, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck declined to comment following Monday night’s 29-26 loss to the Carolina Panthers:
"“I’m not getting into that right now,” replied Luck when asked about his speculated rib injury."
For what it’s worth, neither Luck nor head coach Chuck Pagano exactly denied the report either, perhaps giving further credibility to it’s accuracy:
Pagano on rib report: "Our guys had issued a statement on it." Won't comment further.
— Mike Berman (@MikeBermanNBC) November 3, 2015
If Luck is playing hurt, it provides a big reason as to why he’s struggled so much this season. The Colts are 1-5 with him as their starting quarterback this season, and while he’s thrown 13 touchdowns, he’s also thrown an alarming 12 interceptions already on the year to pair with a mediocre passer rating of 71.6.
Nov 2, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) runs the ball during overtime against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Carolina defeated Indianapolis 29-26 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
It doesn’t fully explain all of Luck’s struggles–namely why he frequently locks on receivers and doesn’t progress through his reads. However, it may have taken him out of his familiar comfort zone. Specifically, Luck may not trust his throws as much as he normally would with the injury–forcing him to hold onto the ball longer and over rely on his go-to targets.
It’s worth noting that many of Luck’s throws also sailed high in last night’s loss. While some of that can be attributed to the rainy conditions, it’s worth wondering whether a potential rib injury is also interfering with his throwing mechanics.
Either way, Luck hasn’t looked completely right this season. The quarterback looked like a completely different quarterback late in Monday night’s game, propelling the Colts to come behind from 17 points down in the 4th quarter. However, it’s worth wondering how much a potential rib injury could be negatively impacting his play this season.