INDIANAPOLIS -- This time, with their franchise player out for possibly five more weeks, the damage has already been done. But the Indianapolis Colts will continue to stress to quarterback Andrew Luck that it’s okay to slide and avoid contact once he returns to the lineup.
“He knows full well that he can’t do that,” coach Chuck Pagano said Monday. “He can’t put himself or this team in jeopardy by doing that.”
Luck suffered a lacerated kidney and a partially torn abdominal muscle Nov. 8 against the Denver Broncos when he decided against sliding and took a hit from linebacker Danny Trevathan and then another from behind by defensive end Vance Walker on the first play of the fourth quarter.
Luck remained in the game, but the team announced two days later that he’ll be out an extended period of time. Taking a hard hit and bouncing back up -- usually tapping the defensive player on the rear end to tell him good hit -- is nothing new for the quarterback. He’s been doing that throughout his career. But Luck took a hit that he couldn’t overcome.
“Love the grit and love the toughness and all that stuff,” Pagano said. “Playing the position like a linebacker, that’s his mentality. Some great plays are made and some first downs are made. We’ll continue to stress that availability is huge, especially at that position.”
Veteran Matt Hasselbeck will start until Luck returns. Hasselbeck started two games -- winning both of them -- when Luck was out with a right shoulder injury earlier this season.
