The Indianapolis Colts returned to work Monday following their Week 10 bye, marking, in earnest, the beginning of a prolonged period without injured franchise quarterback Andrew Luck.
But Luck was still a topic of discussion.
Coach Chuck Pagano finally addressed the elephant in the room: The fact that Luck, according to the Colts, was injured while scrambling in the open field versus the Denver Broncos last week. His reluctance to avoid contact — and his preference to take on defenders — could have contributed to his sustaining a lacerated kidney.
And, that, Pagano said, simply can't happen.
"We're going to talk every day until he figures it out and we figure it out as a team," Pagano said. "He knows full well that he can't do that. He can't put himself and this team in jeopardy. You love the grit, and you love the toughness and all that stuff. But playing the position like a linebacker? You can't."
Luck absorbed a direct shot to his midsection from Broncos linebacker Danny Trevathan on the play on which the Colts said he was injured. It was a second-and-9 play, and Luck was well short of the first down, gaining just four yards. Yet he still barreled forward, choosing not to slide and take advantage of the protections afforded NFL quarterbacks. Luck owners probably love the bonus of few points worth of rushing yards, but not at the expense of longterm injuries. Luck often chooses not to slide feet first to give himself up.
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