INDIANAPOLIS — Andrew Luck continues to check off the proverbial boxes as he prepares to make his full return to practice by the time the Indianapolis Colts report to training camp on July 25.
And the next step in that progression, we learned this week, could be coming very soon.
Luck, who has been touring the state once again as part of his annual "Change The Play" camps in collaboration with Riley Children's Health, revealed Monday that he's planning on contacting some of his teammates soon to arrange private workouts as he ramps up his throwing program.
"Yeah, I will," Luck told WTHR’s Dave Calabro when asked if there was a possibility he could call up the likes of wide receiver T.Y. Hilton and others to run routes and catch passes before the start of training camp. "I won't divulge too many secrets on that. But I absolutely will.
"It's part of the plan."
Head coach Frank Reich told reporters June 14, after the Colts wrapped up their offseason workout program, that he trusted Luck to know "what he has to do to get ready," and that it's commonplace for quarterbacks to get together with their receivers before training camp in an effort to keep the offseason momentum going.
But these workouts are expected to serve an even greater purpose this time around, as Luck is hoping to use the sessions to continue working his surgically-repaired right shoulder back to full strength.
"You go from where you're throwing pretty stationary, not a whole lot of movement," Reich said. "Then some of your movement throws; then you're spotting receivers up and you're throwing to spots; and then the next step after that is throwing competitive throws to receivers who are running full speed.
"We certainly would need to work to get that in before the return."
Luck — hosting camps this week in Fort Wayne, Evansville and Indianapolis — was seen tossing the football around with campers and spreading the mission of his “Change The Play” initiative, which is to encourage kids "to challenge themselves to make better choices when it comes to food and exercise."
As for his own health, Luck said he continues to "feel great" after missing the entire 2017 season.
"Right on the path I want to be," he told Calabro. "I'll be out here throwing to some kids today, hanging out. It's been a long, windy road. Certainly some parts that have been very, very frustrating. But I'm sort of done looking back and looking forward, and I feel very, very optimistic. I'm so excited for the season, excited for training camp, and excited to be a Colt.
"I'm convinced I'll be ready for training camp, but I'm not going out and throwing 150 balls a day," Luck continued. "There'll be a plan, and I've talked with Coach Reich and our medical staff and training staff, and I feel very, very confident about that plan. But, yeah, the goal, obviously, is to be able to play each game the best I can."
