Andrew Luck in concussion protocol for Colts

Indianapolis Colts star quarterback Andrew Luck is in the concussion protocol, head coach Chuck Pagano announced today.

Well after the game was over, Luck and safety Clayton Geathers both had concussion-like symptoms and are both now in the protocol. Pagano said that he thinks Luck’s concussion happened somewhere in the fourth quarter, while he pointed to that final fourth down stop for Geathers. He said that both guys felt fine during the game and that the symptoms came later in the night. Now, it’s up to the docs regarding their status.

With a game coming up in just a few days on Thanksgiving night, this obviously puts Luck’s status for the game in serious doubt. There’s a set process that a player has to go through before being cleared to return from a concussion, and it’s a real long shot for a guy to be able to pass that protocol in just a matter of a few days to play on a Thursday game. While obviously the top priority is Luck’s health, this is a really tough break for a Colts team that has won two in a row and is trying to climb their way out of a hole. Every game remaining is a very important one for the Colts’ playoff hopes, so having to play without their best player against a good, dangerous team wouldn’t be good.

In the likely event that Luck can’t go, it will be Scott Tolzien making his first appearance for the Colts in the regular season since he was signed this offseason to be Luck’s backup. Tolzien has played in six career NFL games and has started two of them, completing 56 of 91 passes (61.5%) for 721 yards (7.9 yards per attempt), a touchdown, and five interceptions for a passer rating of 67.1, while he’s also added 52 yards and a touchdown rushing.

Luck wasn’t out at practice today, which is what raised concerns, but plenty of fans were pointing some of the hits he took yesterday during the game. On the day Luck was hit quite a bit, as he was hit ten times and sacked twice, while according to Pro Football Focus he was under pressure on 20 of 35 dropbacks (57.1%). So it was a game in which Luck was under pressure and hit quite a bit and had to use his platemaking ability, and he was able to do that for the most part as he evaded pressure.

Luck has been having a very good season, as through ten games he has completed 236 of 375 passes (62.9%) for 2,827 yards (7.54 yards per attempt), 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions for a passer rating of 93.9. He’s also rushed for 246 yards and a touchdown while averaging 4.8 yards per carry.

This story will be updated.