Indianapolis Colts GM: Andrew Luck to start practicing this week

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck will finally make it back to the practice field this week, although he is not ready to go through full-bore workouts.

Colts general manager Chris Ballard said on his weekly radio show Monday that Luck would be eased into practice for the first time since undergoing right shoulder surgery in January, per CBS4indy.com.

"We'll slowly start working him back into practice this week," Ballard said. "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's health has been a major question mark since he was taken off the physically unable to perform list on Sept. 2. Last week, Colts coach Chuck Pagano said Luck might be able to practice midweek but reversed course two days later.

"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."

Indianapolis fell to 1-3 after a 46-18 road loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. Jacoby Brissett, acquired from the New England Patriots just prior to the season, started the past three games after replacing Scott Tolzien at halftime of the season opener.

Brissett was 16 of 29 for 157 yards with one touchdown and one interception Sunday. He is 55 of 93 for 683 yards with two scores and two picks on the season.

The first overall pick in the 2012 draft, Luck led the Colts to three consecutive 11-5 records in his first three seasons, throwing for a career-high 40 touchdowns in 2014, but injuries limited him to seven games in 2015. He missed one game in 2016 with a concussion but was listed on the injury report every week as the Colts went 8-8.

Pagano echoed Ballard's sentiments that Luck will be brought along slowly.

"Everybody has to understand he's not going to come back and take all the first-team reps and play 50, 60, 70 snaps in practice a day," Pagano said. "We have to integrate him back into practice. Like anybody else, do some individual, throw some routes versus air, stay with his throwing progression and bring him along."