Colts QB Andrew Luck a full participant at practice for Pats

Author: the associated press
Published: Updated:
MGN

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Colts quarterback Andrew Luck was a full participant in Monday’s practice for the first time in two weeks, though his availability for this weekend’s showdown with New England remains unknown.

Luck is still day-to-day with a sore right shoulder and had been limited in practice since leading Indianapolis to a 35-33 win at Tennessee on Sept. 27.

“It feels better every day,” Luck said. “It was good to go through practice without limitations in a sense, get out there and throw. It’s feeling better.”

Indy could use Luck this week when the Colts (3-2) host defending Super Bowl champion New England (4-0) on Sunday night, but the Colts have also found ways to win without him lately.

Backup quarterback Matt Hasselbeck threw for 213 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Colts to a 27-20 win at Houston and he threw for 282 yards and a touchdown in a 16-13 overtime win at Jacksonville.

The two wins, both with Luck watching from the sidelines, has made the urge to play that much stronger.

“We all want to play,” Luck said. “Every athlete wants to be out there playing all the time. So when you’re not out there you get itching to go and there’s certainly a pep in your step.”

After missing the only two NFL games in his four-year career, it’s still unclear what shape he is in. Practice wasn’t open to the media on Monday and Luck wouldn’t go into detail about what exactly he did.

“More,” Luck said. “Absolutely, definitely more. It was the same sort of how we would always do on a Monday, split between Hasselbeck and I.”

Colts coach Chuck Pagano didn’t reveal much either and only referred to the way Luck is throwing the ball as “good.”

The Colts got the season off to a rough start and Luck took much of the heat. He threw two interceptions in a loss to Buffalo and three more in a loss to the New York Jets before bouncing back with the Week 3 win against the Titans, when Luck was injured.

The two-time Pro Bowl quarterback would love to be back for this one. He is 0-4 against Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and New England in three seasons. He has six TDs and 10 interceptions in those four losses. Overall, the Colts are 1-4 against the Patriots in the playoffs since 2003, including a 45-7 loss in the AFC title game last winter.

It was obvious that Luck doesn’t want to be watching the game in street clothes for a third straight week.

“I really hope not,” Luck said. “I really, really hope not. This certainly is a big game and it’s the next game. It’s a very, very good team that’s undefeated coming to town. There certainly is a history between us and them, but it’s also a new year.”

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