Indianapolis Colts QB Andrew Luck to miss next three practices

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck will sit out the next three camp practices as he continues to recover from a calf injury, coach Frank Reich said Saturday. The 29-year-old quarterback has been rehabilitating the injury and participating in walk-throughs but has not been on the practice field. Given the Colts' preseason opener is on Thursday at Buffalo, Luck likely won't return to the practice field until Saturday at the earliest.

Despite the news, Reich remains confident that Luck will return to the team soon.

"I talked with [Luck] last night and this morning; I feel good about where we're at," Reich told reporters on Saturday. "You won't see him out here this week. But just ramping [his rehab] up from last week, it was so productive last week that we feel like we're on the right track."

Reich added, "I feel like it's not just rehab. I feel like we're not in so much rehab phase -- a little bit of rehab -- but we're in strength phase too. Just to get back to full strength. It's one thing to kind of be recovered from the injury; it's another thing to be back to full strength. And I think our goal is to kind of get him back to full strength."

Luck initially injured his calf in April and was forced to miss the team's OTAs and minicamp. He returned for the first four days of training camp but was limited and has been rehabilitating since.

The Colts are being cautious with the four-time Pro Bowl quarterback, who missed all of the 2017 season with a right shoulder injury. He returned last season to pass for 4,593 yards and 39 TDs and lead Indianapolis to the divisional round of the AFC playoffs. For his efforts, Luck earned the Comeback Player of the Year award.

Reich said Saturday that the team will not push Luck to return sooner than he feels he's ready.

"Make no mistake; he's driving the truck," Reich said of Luck. "He knows how he feels. He knows best what is going to get him ready, so that's how we're proceeding."