Earlier today, the Colts announced that quarterback Andrew Luck will be sidelined for the next two to six weeks due to a lacerated kidney and a partial tear of an abdominal muscle. The Colts know who the primary fill-in will be, but who will back up Matt Hasselbeck? Here’s more on that and other items out of Indianapolis..
- The Colts are going to need another quarterback on the roster now that Luck is sidelined and Josh Johnson isn’t available for another tour of duty, Mike Florio of PFT writes. Right now, Hasselbeck is the only other QB on the 53-man roster, though they could promote Alex Tanney from the taxi squad. If they look out of house, options might include Ryan Mallett, Jason Campbell, and Rex Grossman. The Cowboys also released quarterback Kellen Moore on Tuesday night, so he might also be a consideration.
- Colts management is still concerned with coach Chuck Pagano and his decision-making, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link) reports. The Colts topped the Broncos on Sunday, but a special teams mistake allowed Denver to return a punt for a touchdown at the end of the first half. Still, Pagano remains very popular with the players in the locker room.
- Many are wondering when Luck will return to the Colts, but Gregg Doyel of the Indy Star is worried about the QB’s long-term future with the team. Luck could theoretically become a free agent as early as 2017, Doyel points out, though that doesn’t mean much as the Colts are armed with the franchise tag. Doyel’s concern is that the Colts have not been adequately protecting their franchise quarterback who has missed multiple games due to injury in 2015. From 2012-2014, when the offensive line was stronger overall, Luck was an iron man for Indianapolis.