Colts place Andrew Luck on injured reserve

The Indianapolis Colts announced on Thursday they are placing quarterback Andrew Luck on injured reserve. He technically can return by Week 17, but the team announcement indicates he will shut it down for the rest of the year.

Luck had offseason shoulder surgery, but the public statements focused on his return at the beginning of the season. Things dragged on, and then recently there were reports he was suffering new pain and did not know why. Multiple doctors’ visits did not resolve the situation, and so that will be that for 2017.

Jacoby Brissett is the team’s current starter, with Scott Tolzien serving as his backup. Brissett has shown some flashes at times, but for the most part, the Colts stink right now. They are 2-6, with their wins coming against Cleveland and San Francisco. There is a very good chance they lose out and finish the season 2-14.

With a strong likelihood they are picking in the top five next April, one has to wonder what the plan is exactly. Luck’s shoulder situation remains unresolved, with no real end point yet. Do they draft a quarterback fairly high? Hope Luck gets better and move forward with him? Something else entirely? They have plenty of time between now and the draft to figure out Luck’s status, but they will be a particularly interesting team near the top of the 2018 draft board.