Andrew Luck feels better than he has in 'a long, long time'
WESTFIELD, Ind. -- Bubbling with excitement and downright giddy to get back on the football field, Colts quarterback Andrew Luck declared on Wednesday that this is "the best I've felt in a long, long time."
That's the best news fans of this franchise have heard in a long, long time – it's now been 18 months since Luck underwent surgery on his throwing shoulder, putting on hold one of the most promising young careers in the NFL.
Now, he's back. And he knows it.
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"Super stoked about how I feel today," Luck said after the Colts reported to Westfield's Grand Park for training camp. "I'm also not kidding myself: There are many, many, many steps to go. And I know I sound like a broken record, but I believe it. It's fun to be here and it's fun to sort of take a look back at the steps I have taken, look how far I've come."
Luck is "full go" for practice beginning Thursday, per coach Frank Reich, and will take first-team reps. He'll practice again Friday before a day off Saturday, then hit the field again for the Colts' first night practice Sunday evening.
Reich didn't hesitate when asked about the potential of Luck playing in the Colts' preseason opener Aug. 9 in Seattle. Plan on it, Reich said. It'll be his first football game of any sort since Jan. 1, 2017.
Luck was as excited as he's ever been to start a training camp, the latest indication his rehabilitation is moving forward and the worst is behind him. He hosted at least one Colts receiver – Chester Rogers – for a throwing session at Stanford earlier this month, and was on the field Monday and Tuesday with the team's rookies.
He has increased his throwing velocity in recent weeks, as well, and is expected to put that on display on the practice fields here in Westfield in the coming days.
His teammates have noticed. Left tackle Anthony Castonzo, one of Luck's closest friends on the team, took it this far when asked about Luck's focus for the coming season:
"It was like I almost picture Liam Neeson in 'Taken,'" Castonzo said, "'I’m a man of singular focus.' Like Andrew’s focus is so narrow right now on just having the best season he possibly can, he’s definitely ready to go, mentally for sure."
One thing Luck did mention: His desire to alter the way he plays. Ever-aggressive and sometimes-reckless, he knows he must be smarter moving forward. Last season taught him that.
"I’d be a bit of a fool not to," he said of playing smarter. "If I do a self-scout over the first part of my career, there are hits I could’ve avoided. There are times the ball could’ve been thrown away. Do I regret not doing that? No. But will I learn from that? Absolutely."
Call Star reporter Zak Keefer at (317) 444-6134 and follow him on Twitter: @zkeefer.