News broke yesterday that Indianapolis Colts star quarterback could potentially miss the first six games of the regular season following shoulder surgery back in January.
Andrew Luck had enjoyed an injury-free career until he was held out of a week four match-up against the Jacksonville Jaguars with a shoulder injury in 2015. That same injury forced him to miss the following week and has since plagued him.
With the chance of Luck now missing almost half the regular season, whatever plans Head Coach Chuck Pagano had in mind for making the playoffs would likely have been altered.
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This roster no longer has experienced backup Matt Hasselbeck to help keep this team competitive but instead has Scott Tolzien. Tolzien has only competed in nine games over three years, one being a spot start for a concussed Luck which the Colts lost 28-7. Behind Tolzien the Colts stable of quarterbacks include Phillip Walker, out of Temple University, and Stephen Morris, who has been in the league since 2014 but yet to enter the field for a regular season snap.
It’s safe to say the Indianapolis Colts are now in trouble. This was a team that had so much promise coming into the season after the off-season they had. On draft day they picked up draft day Malik Hooker, also brang in Jabaal Sheards and Johnathan Hankins in free agency.
The Colts do have one thing going their way though: their schedule!
In the six games that Luck could potentially miss they play one divisional opponent (Titans), three teams who had four or fewer wins last season and four NFC teams.
First up they have the Rams, this young organization will be looking to continue their trend of winning in week one like they have the last two years against the 49ers and the Seahawks. Now that they’re under a new coaching staff, it’s hard to predict how this Rams team will perform. Even with that being said, on the defensive side of the ball, they have elite talent in both Aaron Donald and Robert Quinn. In reality, the Colts could not have picked a better team to play in week one. A young quarterback who is still learning the system. This will be a low scoring game which is exactly what the Colts need.
Week two is the Colts home opener versus the Arizona Cardinals who I previewed HERE.
Their other easier games come against the Cleveland Browns in week three and then two weeks later the San Francisco 49ers.
Overall, the schedule has worked out in the Colts favour. The team, even with Tolzien at quarterback, has the talent and ability to compete with their first six opponents. They only have to play in their own division once and even only twice in their own conference! It may not be as difficult as first assumed for the Colts. If Tolzien can keep it together and get them at least two victories this team will still have a chance of making it back to the postseason once Luck returns.
