Andrew Luck optimistic about return to Colts practice

That said, Hasselbeck has played fairly well when he’s been in.

Luck said he must be cleared first to practice, then cleared again to play after another scan. Dawn Steel’s 1993 biography was called They Can Kill You, But They Can’t Eat You, which I believe is what Pagano is trying to reference here. “It sucks. Yeah, it sucks the last two weeks to have that many points scored on you, especially defensively”. It’ll be a little bit of a learning curve again. Doctors know that Luck can not risk elevating his heart rate because it would pump more blood through his kidneys, delaying the healing process, according to medical sources. On Monday, Luck said he had been lifting weights.

Smith wasn’t penalized on the play for unnecessary roughness, but Hasselbeck was clearly upset. If they win their last three games against Atlanta, New Orleans and Houston and the victor of the Houston-Indianapolis game this Sunday loses its last two, the Jaguars win the division title at 8-8.

NOTES: Jacksonville’s win ended a string of seven consecutive losses to the Colts….

“He took a couple good shots there”, said Colts head coach Chuck Pagano after the game.

Pagano still hasn’t received word that Luck will be able to participate in practice this week. He saw limited practice time early last week and was then sidelined. But he’s not almost where he wants to be just yet. He didn’t get much backup support, however, as two other backs combined for just 23 yards in five carries. Hasselbeck has been battling neck, rib and shoulder injuries that were worsened during Sunday’s loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

“We’ve got three games left”. The arm in the sling helps to alleviate the spasm issue.

A disruptive Colts defense built up three sacks, two forced fumbles and two quarterback hits in the first half on Sunday.

“What I can say about Gus is (he’s) one the most passionate guys about ball that you’ll find”, Quinn said. He came back in that game after taking a pretty good lick. “I think it provides an even clearer vision to when we do things right in all three phases what we have a chance to be”. He’s a great competitor. If Luck isn’t practicing on Wednesday, I fully expect him to be out on Sunday. He returned after the first injury but sustained a rib injury in the fourth quarter and did not come back.

Heading into the 2015 regular season, there was a lot of hype surrounding the quarterbacks in the AFC South. Anticipation surrounded the debut of Tennessee’s rookie Marcus Mariota, Indianapolis’s Andrew Luck was poised for an MVP-type season, and Jacksonville’s Blake Bortles was set to follow up a solid rookie campaign. From a strategic standpoint, it would also force the Texans to respect the deep pass. Hasselbeck’s limited deep game has allowed teams to be more aggressive blitzing against a suspect Colts line. There is a personal attachment to Pagano in Indy, but we need to separate emotion and profession when making decisions like this. Hasselbeck was headed out of bounds, but because he was not completely out of the field of play, he was fair game – quarterback or not. “[He’s] banged up”, Pagano said. “(If) you’re outside the pocket and you don’t slide and give yourself up, you don’t garner the protection that you have in the pocket.

“If both feet are not (out of bounds), you’re a runner”.

“They can’t eat you”.