INDIANAPOLIS – The Colts and Patriots primetime matchup remains six days away, yet some significant news came on Monday.

It started on Monday morning when the Colts released quarterback Josh Johnson.

That leaves Andrew Luck and Matt Hasselbeck as the only quarterbacks currently on the active roster.

If the Colts keep the number of quarterbacks at "two" this week (something they haven't done the past two weeks) that's obviously an indication Luck will dress/play come Sunday night.

The other news regarding the Colts starting quarterback for this week came later on Monday, after the team got off the practice field.

Chuck Pagano said that Luck was a "full participant" at Monday's practice (NFL teams don't mandate an injury report until Wednesday each week).

From roster mechanics, to Luck's health, Monday appeared to be a very positive day for the Colts getting their starting quarterback this Sunday.

"It was good to go through practice without limitations, in a sense, to get out there and throw," Luck said after Monday's practice.

"It felt good."

Matt Hasselbeck was also a "full participant" (according to Pagano) at Monday's practice. Luck said him and Hasselbeck split the reps on Monday.

That gave the Colts their two quarterbacks on the field together in a "full" practice mode for the first time since prior to the team's Week Three contest against the Titans.

With Week Six now here for the Colts, Luck has had a chance to watch Hasselbeck lead the defending AFC South champions to a pair of division wins.

Luck pointed to a few specific characteristics in Hasselbeck's game that have stuck with him.

"(Hasselbeck) played almost as close to a perfect game (Thursday) as you can play," Luck said.

"He did a great job of getting the ball out of his hands, getting the ball in the right guy's hands, not taking hits."

Will Luck be able to incorporate those into his own game on Sunday night?

That will be the question the rest of the week.

With the Colts and Patriots rivalry writing another chapter in six days, the early signs look like Luck will once again play a major factor in it.

"There's certainly a history between us and them," Luck said of Colts and Patriots meeting for a 17th time since 2003 on Sunday.

"But it's also a new year and you've go to take care of business at home."