Sound the alarms: Andrew Luck is throwing a football.
Indianapolis Colts coach Frank Reich said Tuesday from the coaches' breakfast at the Annual League Meeting that Luck began throwing a football, via NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport.
Reich didn't make it sound like Luck was ripping throws yet, but it's clear the quarterback is moving in the right direction in his rehab.
In a sit-down interview with the *Around The NFL Podcast*, Reich expressed hope that the teams selecting ahead of the Colts draft quarterbacks because the Indianapolis organization believes its own will be "ready to go" in Week 1.
"You're hopeful that he's going to be there," Reich added. "You plan that he's going to be there. All the rehab is checking off all the boxes: Yep, we hit that stage. Stage one, stage two, stage three. It's all been good. We'll just have to keep progressing on down that road."
Throwing a football again is a notable and positive step for Luck, who missed the entire 2017 season because of his shoulder injury.
Last offseason the Colts' optimism rung hollow as Luck missed more and more time. This year has a slightly different tenor with a new coach and promising new progress from Luck.
While throwing a football in March might not sound like a big step, for a franchise quarterback who hasn't played in a football game since Jan. 1, 2017, it's a vital stage in finally returning to the field.
Here are other injury notes we're tracking Tuesday:
- Houston Texans coach Bill O'Brien told reporters quarterback Deshaun Watson is ahead of schedule in his recovery from ACL surgery.
- Jacksonville Jaguars coach Doug Marrone announced quarterback Blake Bortles is throwing without pain in his surgically repaired wrist.
- Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera told reporters that linebackers Luke Kuechly and Julius Peppers will likely miss spring team workouts as they recover from offseason shoulder surgeries.
Rivera also said tight end Greg Olsendoes not need a second surgery on his injured foot.
- Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer told reporters his former quarterback and current Jet QB Teddy Bridgewater "still has some recovery to do" as he still attempts to rehab a devastating knee injury he suffered in 2016.
- Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh told reporters that defensive back Jimmy Smith "may be ahead of schedule a little bit" in his recovery from a torn Achilles.
- Miami Dolphins coach Adam Gase told reporters that quarterback Ryan Tannehillwill be ready for OTAs.
- Arizona Cardinals coach Steve Wilks said star running back David Johnson (wrist) is expected to be cleared in time to participate in Cards' OTAs.
- Washington Redskins coach Jay Gruden announced he does not expect oft-injured tight end Jordan Reed to be ready for OTAs.
