INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck did not practice on Monday due to a foot injury, head coach Frank Reich said.
Reich said the injury is "no big deal," however, and that Luck "would've played this Sunday if we had a game."
Luck suffered the injury during Saturday's preseason Week 3 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. At the 9:29 mark in the second quarter, facing a 3rd and 13, Luck dropped back and, with no receivers immediately open, took off up the middle of the field. Fifteen yards later, after earning the first down, he was tackled from behind by linebacker Dekoda Watson.
On the very next play, Luck found tight end Eric Ebron open in the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown pass to put the Colts up 7-3. It was the final play for Luck and the first-team offense this preseason.
Reich on Monday doubled down on his support of Luck's decision to scramble in that scenario on Saturday.
"Really, when you look back at that play, once you get to that play, once you get to that (point), you're at a point of no return," Reich said. "You know, once you take it up inside. If you're going towards the boundary, that's one thing — you can protect yourself at the boundary, you can slide — but once you kind of take it up the middle and there's a guy chasing you from behind, you're kinda committed to go and to finish that thing out, so I think it was the right decision."
Luck finished the 49ers game completing 8-of-10 passes for 90 yards and a touchdown, while also running four times for 27 yards. He could return to practice as soon as tomorrow, Reich said, and is expected to be under center when the Colts open the regular season against the Cincinnati Bengals Sept. 9 at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The Colts also take on the Bengals in Thursday's preseason opener at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati. Reich said he expects Jacoby Brissett to start the game at quarterback and play about a quarter before Phillip Walker comes on for the rest of the contest.
Here are a few other observations from the early portion of Monday's practice:
— Those either not out on the field or not participating were Luck (foot), wide receiver K.J. Brent (knee), wide receiver James Wright (knee), safety Ronald Martin (shoulder), cornerback D.J. White (groin), running back Marlon Mack (hamstring), safety Clayton Geathers (rest), cornerback Quincy Wilson (hand), safety T.J. Green (hamstring), tight end Darrell Daniels (shoulder), linebacker Anthony Walker (groin), linebacker Darius Leonard (lower leg), linebacker Jeremiah George (back), tackle Denzelle Good (knee), tackle Anthony Castonzo (hamstring), defensive tackle/end Tyquan Lewis (foot) and defensive tackle/end Denico Autry (ankle).
— Luck, Geathers, Daniels and Leonard were new additions to the did-not-practice list on Monday. Martin, Green and Good were each injured during Saturday's game vs. the 49ers.
— John Simon, who did not return after suffering a neck injury on Saturday, was participating with the team in the early portion of Monday's practice.
— With Leonard not participating on Monday, it looked like fellow rookie Zaire Franklin was getting reps at the WILL linebacker position during an early positional drill.
— Those fielding kickoffs early in practice included Nyheim Hines, Zach Pascal and Chester Rogers.
