Colts HC Pagano: Luck has 'been through hell'

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is enduring a nightmare year and head coach Chuck Pagano empathized with his star player amid a lost season.

Luck faced several setbacks in his attempt to recover from offseason shoulder surgery and was placed on season-ending injured reserve on Nov. 2 without playing a game.

The quarterback left for Europe to undergo further treatment on his right shoulder and upon his imminent return stateside, Pagano once again expressed his sympathy.

"He's been through hell," Pagano said Tuesday to Stephen Holder of The Indianapolis Star. "Everybody has. And none more than him. And nobody wants to be back on the field more than Andrew. This is an unfortunate set of circumstances for everybody. But it’s life, and life happens. And he’s a warrior. And he’s done so much for this organization the last five years. He’s battled through injuries, he’s played injured, he’s played hurt. It’s unfortunate."

Luck signed a six-year extension worth $140 million in June 2016 and is the face of the franchise but it's a daunting time for the Colts with his health in jeopardy.

"I hate it for him because nobody’s sacrificed as much as he has for this organization over the last five years," Pagano said. "He's a great teammate and he's a great pro and he’s a great player. I can't say enough about the kid and how bad we all feel for him, especially myself."