Luck: 'No awards for just walking out on the field'

Andrew Luck hasn't played in a football game since January 2017. However, his long road back appears to be ending, as the Indianapolis Colts plan to have their star quarterback start the team's preseason opener.

Despite the progress he's made this offseason, Luck knows returning to full health isn't the end of his NFL journey.

"There are no awards for just walking out on the field," Luck said on Wednesday, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

The three-time Pro Bowler is set to practice without limitations when training camp gets underway on Thursday. He's anxious to get going after missing so much football due to a right shoulder injury.

"I can assure you nobody's more excited than I am and nobody cares more than I do," said an upbeat Luck.

The No. 1 overall pick in 2012 took 30-plus sacks in three of his first five NFL seasons, and his aggressive style drew criticism from those who believed he could do a better job of protecting himself.

"There are hits I could have avoided in the past or the ball could have been thrown away and it could have spared me here or there," Luck said, according to Tricia Whitaker of CBS4Indy. "Do I regret not doing that though? But will I learn from that? Yes."