Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck has his marching orders for mandatory minicamp this week.
"Just observe," Colts coach Chuck Pagano told reporters Tuesday, via The Indianapolis Star.
Pagano added: "The next step is getting to the point where he can throw."
Luck won't be an active participant during the final workouts of the offseason program, and the Colts expect him to be on a pitch count once he's cleared to throw. The former No. 1 overall pick underwent shoulder surgery in January and there's still no recovery timetable. Pagano told reporters he's unsure if Luck will be available for training camp.
Luck attempted to quell such worries, per the Indianapolis Star.
As NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal pointed out in April, it's fairly stunning how quiet this storyline has been. The team's entire season rides on the vitality of Luck's shoulder and, had it not been for owner Jim Irsay recently suggesting Luck would be on the field for the season opener, we wouldn't have the slightest idea of a realistic timeframe.
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday that none of this comes as a surprise to the Colts organization, which expected the quarterback to spend minicamp on the sideline. The great unknown remains whether he'll be ready for training camp.
The positive here is that Luck is not learning a new offense, nor are the majority of the team's core offensive players. However, without any idea of how significant the recovery and adjustment period will be, it's difficult to place this Colts offseason in its proper context.