Before the onslaught that was Week 7 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the news everyone was talking about was Andrew Luck, his setback, and the cortisone shot. Suddenly the team has a reason to keep Luck from the playing field for a while longer if not the rest of the season.
The setback makes sense in respect to the theory that the Colts have no interest in playing Luck this season due to their belief the season is a wash.
Example one would be the Week 6 Monday Night Football matchup in Nashville. Indianapolis was hyping up Luck all week going as far to say he had made the defense “look silly” in practice and hinting at a potential return in Week 7 or Week 8.
Entering that game, both teams were 2-3 and well within reach of a divisional title. The Colts led 19-9 at halftime of that game and things were looking up.
Then the wheels fell off the bus as turnovers and bad play calling ended the Colts’ hopes of leaving Tennessee with a win. The Colts lost that game on Oct. 16th and with it the likelihood of a winning season. Shockingly, on Oct. 18th the Colts’ announced that Luck had received that shot and would be shut down indefinitely.
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In the press conference to announce the news, Chris Ballard told the media, “Understand this: Every player is different, every rehab is different, every surgery is different. That’s why we’ve never put a timeline on this. Every guy is different. The good news is, Andrew is very in-tune with his body and he’s being honest about what’s going on and that’s what we want, that’s what we need. I don’t think anybody in this room can question Andrew Luck’s toughness and willingness to play with pain.”
Ballard continued, “We want to get to a point where he can practice every day and his long-term success is what we’re looking for. Much like with any player, that’s what’s important to us.’’
The truth is, whether Luck is truly suffering a setback or this is all a ruse by the Colts, Luck not being thrown out to the wolves is a positive. Indianapolis allowed 10 sacks against Jacksonville this week and things only get tougher from here with matchups against the Bengals, Texans and Steelers.