Colts GM says Luck now has high-ankle problem – ESPN

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts get long gone from feeling real that quarterback Andrew Luck would possibly be prepared for the initiate of the strange season to now no longer being ready to assert for clear he’ll play against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1.

“We’re 3 1/2 weeks away from the strange season, I’m no longer prepared to assert (Luck would possibly additionally no longer play against the Chargers),” Colts general manager Chris Ballard acknowledged Tuesday evening.

Checks completed on Luck on Monday evening published that the quarterback has long gone from dealing with a calf strain, which he within the foundation turn into as soon as diagnosed with in March, to currently having pain within the “high anklish” save of his left leg.

“From the initiate we now were dealing with a calf injury,” Ballard acknowledged. “In March thru camp, dealing with a calf after which tiny save below his calf, which Andrew procure of normally known as a lower leg the place he turn into as soon as dealing with some pain, virtually within the ankle save. The injury wasn’t bettering and hadn’t been practising so within the middle of dealing with the calf injury, it appears to be that now now we get an ankle mission.”

Ballard did snort that at this point Luck will no longer play within the preseason. The team’s focal point for Luck to strictly focal point on rehabbing. There hasn’t been any discuss of conceivable surgical treatment for Luck. He has fully practiced three days on a restricted basis in practicing camp as a result of the pain in his ankle save. Luck also passed over of the team’s OTA and minicamp speak within the spring.

“There may perchance be ample pain the place he’s no longer practising,” Ballard acknowledged. “That is what now we get to rating below control. After we rating that below control I hang we are in a position to truly pass ahead. There may perchance be no longer any inquire of he had a calf (injury). However the lower piece is more of an ankle mission. We rating that below control we are in a position to help with the pain.”

Ballard believes Luck can play at no longer as a lot as 100 p.c if essential this season.

“If he can characteristic, sure,” Ballard acknowledged. “If his pain is below control and he can offer protection to himself and play real sure.”

The Colts announced July 30 that Luck turn into as soon as going to pause practising until he felt like his calf turn into as soon as 100 p.c healthy. Luck acknowledged the next day that his Achilles turn into as soon as no longer at extra risk of damage.

“The mission factual now is the side-to-side stuff,” Ballard acknowledged. “More or much less rolling of the ankle. One thing else again-and-forth he’s real. Standing there throwing, he’s real. Provocative within the pocket, those are the procure of things now we get to rating him better at.” Ballard believes Luck’s ankle status is an accumulation of years of damage on it.

“We predict we chanced on it,” Ballard acknowledged. “Is there 100 p.c guarantee? No, nevertheless we are awaiting now we get (chanced on it). We are going to rehab it the formula we are awaiting now we get to rehab it.”

Luck and the Colts know he wants some speak time in train to be prepared for the initiate of the strange season. Ballard acknowledged there’ll be some degree the place they have to manufacture a resolution on Luck’s status against the Chargers. Backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who started 15 video games in 2017 for the injured Luck, has been working with the principle team in Luck’s absence.

Injuries get derailed what turn into as soon as a promising initiate to Luck’s NFL profession. He led the Colts to the playoffs in every of first three seasons, together with the AFC Championship game in 2014, before a shoulder injury in Week 3 of the 2015 turn into as soon as the initiate of a most reasonable doubtless alternative of accidents for Luck. He has passed over 26 video games, together alongside with your total 2017 season as a result of shoulder, kidney and rib concerns since the 2015 season. The Colts went 4-12 in 2017 when Luck turn into as soon as out. Luck passed for 4,593 yards, 39 touchdowns and turn into as soon as named the NFL’s Most Improved Participant final season.

“Right here’s no longer 2017,” Ballard acknowledged. “Once I first came within the door, one of things we talked about turn into as soon as constructing team and it wasn’t about one man. Gape, I realize the importance of Andrew Luck. He’s one of many tip-five quarterbacks within the league. However we even get but one more quarterback that we like in Jacoby Brissett. To me that’s piece of constructing a team. It’s doubtless you’ll additionally quiet be ready to handle when things don’t scuttle the formula you intend them out to be.”