Colts QB Andrew Luck (abdominal, kidney) will be sidelined 2-6 weeks

The latest blow in a trying season for the Indianapolis Colts was dealt Tuesday: Star quarterback Andrew Luck is out 2-6 weeks.

“I can’t recall”, Pagano said.

“We’ve been through a lot in this 2015 season”, Pagano said.

The timing is especially cruel as Luck is coming off his best performance of the season, by far, against the top-ranked Broncos defense as he threw for 252 yards and a pair of touchdowns. When he arrived at the team complex Monday, Luck said he felt worse and team doctors sent him for tests that revealed the injuries. And while this is a scary-sounding injury, if there’s someone who’s going to return at an accelerated pace, it’s Luck, who has already proven to be one of the toughest players in the NFL.

The Colts were hit by a bevy of reports several weeks ago when it was reported that Luck had been playing the early portion of the season with multiple fractured ribs.

“We will win football games with Matt”, Pagano said.

The Colts’ next major opponent will be the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have their own injury problems with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who is now nursing a mid-foot sprain.

The 40-year-old Hasselbeck takes over, as he did last month when Luck missed two games with an injured right shoulder. The Colts also signed QB Alex Tanney to back-up Hasselbeck should anything happen to him.

In Week 11 and 12 the Colts face the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, two teams that struggle to rush the passer or stop opposing offenses. Coach Chuck Pagano noted Luck was “doing everything he could to get us the win”. Backup Matt Hasselbeck filled in and won a pair of starts in early October. However, playing behind a weak offensive line has subjected Luck to a pounding this season.