Andrew Luck to start Colts preseason opener, play the first quarter

For those trying to decide whether it is worth it to tune in tomorrow for the Colts’ first preseason game action against Seattle, perhaps it will persuade you a bit to know that the tentative plan for quarterback Andrew Luck as far as playing time goes is to start the game and play for most if not all of the first quarter.

When addressing the media on Tuesday, head coach Frank Reich said that Luck would start and would play through a “range of plays and situations” that they want to hit with Luck and that they will keep things fluid as far as how much playing time he would get. Reich joked that it would be a quarter, “give or take a half a quarter.”

Reich repeatedly talked about seeking rhythm as one of the primary things they’ll look for out of Luck’s play early in the game, emphasizing the need to control the rush of adrenaline that will come with being back in football. He is looking to see Luck get the ball out quickly and move down the field.

If you were hoping to see something evolutionary on the offensive side of the ball, you might be disappointed. When asked about the likelihood of Luck operating the “no huddle” on Thursday, Reich shot the idea down.

“Probably not. You know, it’s preseason so we’ll stay pretty basic.”

Reich isn’t looking to show his hand before the games count, so expect the offense to be vanilla. However, vanilla offense with Andrew Luck at the helm is a whole lot more exciting than most of what we got in 2017, so it could still be a lot of fun to watch.

While this game won’t count, it will matter a lot as the next major in Luck’s progress toward a full return. A strong showing will go a long way to calm the fears of Colts fans who are still wary, and will quiet some of the questions outside of Indianapolis about what the Colts should expect out of Luck this season.

The game kicks off at 10pm EDT tomorrow. Check here to find out how you can watch or listen.