Colts GM: Luck to 'slowly' return to practice this week

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck will return to practice on a gradual basis this week, general manager Chris Ballard revealed Monday. Luck has yet to practice this season as he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery.

"We'll slowly start working him back into practice this week," Ballard said via Mike Chappell of CBS 4. "We'll see how much he gets.

"But we've got a plan in place to where we want him to start getting him reps and then, in time as we can get him incorporated back into team work and all that, we'll get him back on the field."

Luck underwent surgery following the 2016 season and many believed he'd be able to return for the start of the 2017 campaign. The Colts' superstar was removed from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list on Sept. 2, but has yet to take the field.

"Andrew's doing good, he’s doing really good," Ballard said. "I've watched him throw the ball and he’s starting to get his motion back, getting his lower body to start working with his upper body.

"His strength levels are getting back to where they need to be."

Jacoby Brissett started the past three games, completing 59.1 percent of his passes for 683 yards, two touchdowns against two interceptions. Scott Tolzien was benched after a disastrous performance during the team's season-opening 46-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

It's highly unlikely Luck will take the field Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, but for a Colts team that often looked lost in his absence, his return to practice is the first positive development since January.