Luck: I played poorly in 2015, even when healthy

The 2015 version of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck was in stark contrast to the superstar that lit up his first three NFL seasons.

Luck's season will likely be remembered for his injuries. He missed nine regular-season games due to shoulder and kidney injuries, but even when he was healthy, Luck played like one of the NFL's worst quarterbacks, a fact he admitted recently.

"Injuries aside, I was not playing very good football - before they happened," Luck said to ESPN, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. "I've got to be better. Toward my last couple games I felt like I was playing much better, trending in the right direction."

It's still unclear when Luck was first injured last season, but during his first three games the 26-year-old threw seven interceptions and struggled with accuracy, causing many to speculate he was playing hurt.

After Luck returned in Week 6 against the New England Patriots, his play appeared to improve. He threw 10 touchdowns to five picks in the next four games, culminating in an outstanding performance against the Denver Broncos and their No.1-ranked defense.

Unfortunately, Luck sustained a lacerated kidney against Denver and missed the rest of the campaign, leaving questions unanswered about whether he'd truly taken a step back in his development.

The Colts, however, appear to have no concerns that Luck won't return to form, as they're expected to make him the NFL's highest-paid player before training camp starts in July.