With The First Pick
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Colts must sit Andrew Luck to secure the future of the franchise

By Luke Drage

NASHVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 16: Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts watches from the bench during the game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on October 16, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 16: Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts watches from the bench during the game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on October 16, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 16: Andrew Luck
NASHVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 16: Andrew Luck /

Andrew Luck is yet to take a snap in 2017. The three-time pro bowler is still limited in his throwing ability following a long recovery from shoulder surgery.

In his absence, the Colts have fallen to 2-5 on the year. Only three teams have worse records.

This means they currently own a top five pick in the 2018 draft. Such a commodity is franchise altering for a team that already possesses an elite quarterback.

The position they find themselves in is entirely unprecedented and one that GM Chris Ballard must take advantage of. The only way to ensure that they protect this pick is to keep their quarterback on the sidelines throughout 2017.

This may draw a flurry of ‘tanking’ responses but in reality it is a move that benefits both Luck, and the team, in the long run. Here’s why:

Luck’s long-term health is at stake

After breezing through his first three years in the league relatively unscathed, Luck has become rather injury prone over the past few seasons. He has been hit often and hard by defensive fronts.

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This has largely been down to him playing behind a weak, inconsistent offensive line.

His unflappable nature in the pocket and desire to make extra yards with his legs has also got him into trouble at times though. Most notably, he suffered a lacerated kidney after taking a hit from linebacker Danny Trevathan when scrambling in the fourth quarter of a 2015 matchup with Denver.

After having surgery earlier this year to fix a lingering shoulder issue, Luck’s timetable for return has been consistently unclear. It was thought that he could return to action some time this month.

However, a recent setback has pushed his earliest comeback date until at least thanksgiving. Even that seems premature at this point though. He isn’t able to throw at 100% and is far away from contact sessions.

Given the nature of the injury, and the importance of his throwing shoulder to his performance, the Colts simply must shut him down for the year. He needs time to fully recover before returning and throwing him into action in week 10 or later is completely futile.

In reality, Luck is high likely to get hurt again playing behind this offensive line should he play in 2017. It ranks dead last in the league in sacks allowed with a whopping 29 in just seven games.

This unit has to be addressed in the offseason in order to protect Luck going forward.

Their season is already as good as over in terms of postseason ambitions. So what does bringing him back actually achieve?

If anything it just endangers him.

And, they then run the risk of yet another offseason dominated by talk of their franchise cornerstone’s health. Luck needs to recuperate fully in order to preserve his career, and with that, the foreseeable future of the Colts franchise.

His talent is enormous and when healthy he gives them a chance to challenge in the AFC every single year. Without him, the future is murky and unclear.

Indy needs Luck healthy. The best way to ensure that going forward is to place him on the season ending IR and start planning for 2018.

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