According to team owner Jim Irsay, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is not expected to play against the Buffalo Bills for the preseason opener on Saturday night after all:
Colts Fans; it's a long Pre-Season and 2 Home Games are coming in the next 2 Weeks..Look for #12 to make 1st Start then instead of tonight.
— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) August 13, 2016
While Luck is fully healthy following a season-ending injury suffered last year, the Colts are likely just being overly cautious with their franchise quarterback and not wanting to run the risk of injury for a game that is essentially more or less meaningless for its star players.
It’s worth noting that Colts starting center Ryan Kelly and right tackle Joe Reitz returned from injuries earlier this week and were able to participate in practices. However, injuries can even happen to a quarterback behind a talented offensive line regardless (See: Romo, Tony).
It certainly doesn’t help matters that Luck was set to play a Rex Ryan coached Buffalo Bills defense that loves to blitz–and may have even delivered an injury to him during last year’s regular season opener when he was constantly under duress in the pocket.
Even if he misses tonight, Luck will still have 3 weeks of preseason games to get into regular season form, so it makes sense that the Colts are holding him out for this one.
In his absence, look for 2nd-string quarterback Scott Tolzien to play in extended action, while 3rd-string quarterback Stephen Morris will likely handle at least the entire second half.
If nothing else, it’s a great opportunity for Tolzien to get playing experience with the 1st-team offense, should injuries actually ever arise to Luck–knock on wood.