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Colts fans have been searching high and low for any kind of sign on the current quarterback situation and who will be starting week one against the Los Angeles Chargers. Andrew Luck has not practiced since July 28 and many are worried that his lingering calf/ankle injury will feed into the first few weeks of the season.
With Luck out, the preseason has been led by quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett, Chad Kelly and Phillip Walker. According to Zak Keefer of the Athletic, Brissett will not be starting in Saturday’s matchup against the Chicago Bears.
In the case that Luck will not start in week one, it’s wise to not risk injury to Brissett. The third preseason game traditionally features more playing time for the starters, but head coach Frank Reich has decided to be more cautious with the players he wants healthy for the regular season.
”At some level we wanna protect Jacoby, to be honest with you, regardless of Andrew’s status,” Reich told The Athletic. “In theory, even if Andrew’s playing in Week 1, he still hasn’t taken a lot of reps, so you still gotta protect Jacoby.”
Keefer also mentioned that Luck could be back in practice as early as Monday, which is good news considering it’s been so long since he’s practiced. In the meantime, the main focus should be protecting the starters who are certain to play against the Chargers. Reich has been very open with the media about the injuries that have affected the team thus far, saying that he’s taking a very conservative approach and will not risk injury with any players.
Colts fans should rest assured knowing that Brissett is completely capable of leading this team. In 2017 he threw 3,098 yards for 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He might not be Andrew Luck, but he deserves some respect for supporting the team in Luck’s absence.
The question still remains: which quarterback will take the field in week one? Whether it is Brissett or Luck, we’re still standing behind a team that is stacked on both sides of the ball. Colts Nation has a lot to look forward to.