AFC Notes: Colts, Raiders, Ravens

Colts

According to Jason La Canfora, there have been “rumblings” that Colts QB Andrew Luck (shoulder) could open the season on the PUP list.

Colts GM Chris Ballard said Luck is going through the throwing program and the “next step” is to get him back in practice.

“He’s going through his throwing program right now, making sure he’s got his motion back right and the next step is getting him to practice. And once we get him to practice we’ll keep taking steps from there,” said Ballard.

Colts HC Chuck Pagano said there is no timeline for Luck’s recovery from shoulder surgery and that he will return when he is medically cleared.

“Right when the doctors say he’s ready to roll, then that’s the date,” Pagano said. “There is no timeline. It was yesterday for all of us, but that’s not really the case. So these things take time, and it’s a process. Our trainers are doing a great job and Andrew is doing a great job. We’re going to listen to those guys, but the last thing we want to do is rush him or any of our players back too soon and have a setback. So we’re going to be diligent in the process.”

Raiders

Raiders HC Jack Del Rio explained that they wanted to bring in more help at the inside linebacker position this offseason, but they ultimately elected to go a different route.

“You work to put a football team together and I think we, in a strong way, addressed a lot of different positions [but] we really haven’t attacked [middle linebacker] the same way,” Del Rio said, via ESPN.com. “That’s not to say we won’t. It’s just, you can only do so much each year. It’s just the way it’s worked out. We’ve got a collection of young guys right now that are eager, and they’re learning. They’re developing and we’re going to work with these guys and we’ll find out.

“We’ve identified some of [the other positions] and linebacker is also on that list. It’s just, maybe it hasn’t got checked off the same way other positions have yet.”

The Raiders have had Tyrell Adams and rookie Marquel Lee both working with the first-team defense at middle linebacker up to this point.

Here are the best available free agent options, in case you’re interested: Top 50 Available Free Agents list.

Ravens

• Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk reports that Ravens QB Joe Flacco is recovering well from his back injury with a week of rest and “arrow [pointing] up” in terms of his health.
• Ravens HC John Harbaugh told reporters on Wednesday that signs are “very positive” for Flacco, as he recovers from a back issue. However, there’s still no update on when Flacco will return.
• In regards to adding free agent QB Colin Kaepernick, Harbaugh said: “I do not have an update on Colin Kaepernick. I’ll frame that this way: there are other positions that we’re looking at too and I don’t have any updates on those either. I think they’re all in the same category.” (Jamison Hensley)
• Earlier in the day, Dianna Marie Russini reported that Harbaugh and GM Ozzie Newsome have gotten resistance from owner Steve Busciotti in regards to adding Kaepernick. (NFLTR)