Andrew Luck Continues to Miss Practice With Lingering Calf Injury
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck missed practice again on Tuesday with a lingering calf injury.
According to ESPN's Mike Wells, Luck will not participate in the Colts' next two practices and will not play in the team's preseason opener at Buffalo on Aug. 8.
Luck suffered the injury in late April and did not participate in the team's OTAs or minicamp. Despite the setback, the quarterback said there is no added risk for an Achilles injury and that surgery on his calf has been ruled out.
"I'm not where I want to be. I did not improve feeling-wise, pain-wise. This is something I vowed to myself after going through 2016-17," Luck said. "I would be, one, honest with myself about how I felt pain-wise with things. Two, honest with the people involved. Make sure we took the time about making good decisions going forward. I know I did not improve with the three practices.
"The nature of it is a calf strain," Luck added. "I say lower leg because I feel pain in my ankle area. I've had images and X-rays and everything, and my Achilles is not at extra risk. There is no tears or swelling or anything that's indicated."
When asked about his availability for Week 1 against the Los Angeles Chargers, Luck said he "absolutely" expects to play, per The Athletic's Zak Keefer.
Luck missed the entire 2017 season after undergoing surgery on his shoulder, which he originally injured in Week 3 of the 2015 season. The NFL's 2018 Comeback Player of the Year said he's using the lessons he learned throughout that injury to deal with the current setback.
"I still have some emotional scars [from 2016 and '17], and that lives with me still, but I'm trying to use it in a positive way," Luck said.
Luck thew for 4,593 yards and 39 touchdowns last year, leading the Colts to a 10–6 record and a playoff berth despite starting the season 1–5.
The Colts defeated the Texans 21–7 as a wild-card team before falling to the Chiefs in the divisional round.
