The Indianapolis Colts have officially activated QB Andrew Luck from their physically unable to perform list to the active roster, according to Ian Rapoport.
Though Colts owner Jim Irsay told reporters Thursday night following the team’s final preseason game that Luck won’t be available for Week 1’s game against the Rams, the team has elected to keep him off the PUP list.
“I would say, again, the odds are most likely he probably won’t open up against the Rams,” Irsay said, via the Indianapolis Star “but let me be clear about it – in our minds it’s something that we haven’t ruled out. We’re going to see where he’s at. It would be awesome (if he can play). We’re not talking Willis Reed or something like that. (Andrew) is a young guy, 12 to 14 to 16, maybe 18 years, I don’t know, going forward (with the Colts). The longer the better, in my opinion.”
According to Irsay, Luck’s timetable is up to the “football Gods.”
“It’s a great question, because it’s been said before by one of the greatest athletes and competitors who’ve played any sport – the quote was this: ‘These games, all games, are played on a four-inch field between your ears.’ That’s where it’s at,” Irsay said. “You have to be able to deal with this, not only physically, but mentally. I have no doubt that Andrew Luck, the person we know that he is, he’s going to come through this thing – and he and I have had long talks about it – not just as good as he was, but a better quarterback. When is the question. That timetable is gonna be more on, really, the football Gods and Andrew’s gut feeling on how he’s feeling.”
The Colts placed Luck on the active/physically unable to perform list to start training camp since he is still recovering from shoulder surgery. However, he avoids the PUP list, which would have costed him the first six games.
Colts GM Chris Ballard also said back in August that Luck would not start the season on the PUP list, regardless of his Week 1 status being in question.
Luck, 27, is a former first-round pick of the Colts back in 2012. He’s currently in the second year of his six-year, $139.125 million contract that includes $87 million guaranteed and is set to make a base salary of $12 million for the 2016 season.
In 2016, Luck has appeared in 15 games and thrown for 4,240 yards while completing 63.5 percent of his passes for 31 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 4 quarterback out of 36 qualifying players.
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