For the first time in 19 months on Thursday night, Andrew Luck played in an NFL game -- and had fun doing so.
In his first game back since a shoulder injury derailed his 2017 season, Luck led two scoring drives in the Colts' 19-17 preseason victory in Seattle.
"I tried to make it as normal as possible," Luck said of returning to the field. "For a moment, I was like how do I coach it, especially leading up to the game, I was trying to control my emotions, but then I just sort of said, 'Screw it. Whatever I want to think and I want to feel, I'm going to feel it and then let that happen.'
"It was kind of like the pressure was off for me and I really had fun. I really enjoyed it. Like I told you guys earlier, I didn't quite know if I would have this much fun practicing football. I didn't know if I'd have this much fun playing football."
Attempting mostly short to intermediate throws, Luck finished 6 of 9 for 64 yards. The quarterback led drives of 12 and nine plays, both of which ended in field goals. Three of his completions were successful third- or fourth-down conversions.
"Offensively, obviously, Andrew looked good," Colts coach Frank Reich told reporters. "That's exactly what we we're hoping to get as far as him finding rhythm, moving the ball. Obviously, we want to finish in the end zone, have to finish in the end zone. But that was a good start there.
"The emotions were flowing. He was pretty jacked up. So it was fun. It was fun to see that from him."
Luck completed passes to the usual suspects, longtime ColtsT.Y. Hilton and Jack Doyle, but told reporters he also relished getting on the same page with new faces (for him) like Marlon Mack (two receptions) and Chester Rogers.
"After [the first play], it sort of slowed down," Luck described, "and the rhythm, the flow of the huddle, calling a play, knowing where the play clocks are, how you get to the line of scrimmage, what your cues are, that operation takes over, and for lack of a better term, it's all natural.
"It felt right."