Peyton Manning: Reps key for Colts' Andrew Luck to return to form

Peyton Manning knows a thing or two about injuries, as he was relegated to the role of a spectator for the 2011 season with an ailing neck.

Manning said that repetitions are key when attempting to return from a lengthy absence, much like the one that Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is enduring after sitting out the entire 2017 campaign with a shoulder injury.

"Everything is an individual thing, so you have to be careful speaking on it since injuries are different," Manning told ESPN while attending Wednesday's Pro-Am at the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio. "But it's also universal. For me, I was a [repetition] guy. I liked to get all the reps on practice. The theory of 10,000 reps, I believe in that. I felt like I was kind of behind because I hadn't gotten the reps even though you have a lot in the bank. It took me a few games before I felt like I was coming back. Getting as many reps as possible is key."

Luck's return will come with an adjustment period, according to the five-time NFL Most Valuable Player.

"For me, coming off missing the entire year with the neck, I knew I was going to have to play a different kind of way, a different sort of physical state," Manning said. "I was looking for things like positive feedback from receivers on whether the ball felt the same coming in and then when you get into the game and you throw a deep out. We played a preseason game and I threw a deep comeback route, and that was a thing to check off the box. You want to do everything for the first time again. You want to get hit, you want to make a tight throw, have a two-minute drive. I wanted to do all those things again."

Colts head coach Frank Reich said on May 23 that he anticipates Luck will start throwing between the end of minicamp on June 14 and the start of training camp in late July.

Luck, who is a three-time Pro Bowl selection, admitted he "pushed a little too hard" in his attempt to return to action after having surgery to repair a torn labrum on Jan. 15, 2017.

Recurring soreness in Luck's shoulder prompted the Colts to finally shut him down two weeks after he returned to practice in early October. The 28-year-old Luck was placed on injured reserve on Nov. 2.

Luck started all 16 games in each of his first three seasons, guiding Indianapolis to identical 11-5 records. After he was limited to seven starts in 2015, he made 15 starts in 2016, throwing for 4,240 yards and 31 touchdowns versus 13 interceptions.

For his career, Luck has completed 1,570 of 2,651 passes (59.2 percent) for 19,078 yards with 132 touchdowns and 68 interceptions. He has 286 rushing attempts for 1,442 yards and 14 more touchdowns.

Last season, the Colts finished 4-12 with Jacoby Brissett starting 15 games at quarterback. Brissett completed 58.8 percent of his passes while throwing for 3,098 yards and 13 touchdowns with seven interceptions.

The Colts are 43-27 with Luck under center during the regular season, and they are 10-16 when he does not play.