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Luck Has Surgery On Throwing Shoulder; Should Be Ready For Training Camp

Written By Bob Harris | fantasy football | Posted 19-Jan-17 @ 10:20 PT

Colts owner Jim Irsay said Thursday morning that quarterback Andrew Luck is recovering from successful surgery to repair a lingering issue in his right shoulder from 2015. Irsay added that Luck would be ready for the start of the 2017 season.

How much offseason work the surgery wipes away remains to be seen.

According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, Luck’s timeline post-surgery is three months to start throwing and six months until he's ready for full action. That would be mid-July -- or just ahead of training camp.

Rapoport added the simple goal was for Luck to not have to be limited in practice anymore -- as he was on a weekly basis throughout the 2017 season.

Despite being a regular on the team's weekly injury report, both the quarterback and coach Chuck Pagano downplayed the injury. Luck missed one game this year due to a concussion.

Irsay told Rapoport in December that Luck wouldn't need surgery. Early this month Luck replied, "I do not think so" when asked if he would need surgery.

Weeks later, Luck needed surgery.

As NFL.com notes, Luck has taken a beating throughout his career behind an offensive line that the Colts brass has either neglected or can't seem to fix when they do add parts. The franchise quarterback has been one of the most battered quarterbacks in the NFL since he entered the league. Those hits are coming to roost in Indy.

Still, Luck had a strong comeback season for Indianapolis after missing most of 2015 with injuries. He wound up completing 346 of 545 passes for 4,240 yards, with 31 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions. Luck had a 96.4 passer rating, completing 63.5 percent of his passes.

All of this despite the tender shoulder.

His recovery will be something I follow closely over the course of the offseason -- along with hoped-for changes to the offensive line that did start to show improvement as the season wound down.

Despite allowing 44 sacks, it appears as if the foundation of Anthony Castonzo, Jack Mewhort, Ryan Kelly and Joe Haeg gives Indianapolis a good starting point.