INDIANAPOLIS – For the first time since lacerating his kidney some 16 days ago, Andrew Luck met the media on Wednesday.
While the timetable for Luck's return to the field remains a difficult one to gauge, the quarterback expects to play again this season.
"Very confident," Luck said of returning to the field again his season.
"Very confident that I'll be able to return."
Luck is currently in Week Three of an original timeframe that was two-to-six weeks. He said he's feeling much better compared to how he felt in the Monday after the win over Denver (on 11/8).
He is beginning to do more rehab/exercise work with the most trying part of this process involving the most basic remedy for healing.
"Rest is a huge, huge portion of it, and from what the doctors and everyone has told me, it's what you have to do for organs to get healthy," Luck said on Wednesday.
When Luck does return to the field, his unique playing style at the quarterback position will be examined with a fine toothcomb.
The injury to Luck came on a scramble, a part of Luck's game that makes him so dynamic, yet susceptible to such an injury.
"Part of me brought it upon myself by not sliding in certain situations," Luck said of his injury.
"There's a time and place to taking a hit. I'm not going to apologize in that sense. Sometimes I feel it is appropriate. Sliding is something I still need to improve on. It's no secret."
Currently, Luck's role is serving as another coach for Matt Hasselbeck and the Colts offense.
Dating back to his days at Stanford, Luck's durability at the quarterback position is a reason why teams so highly coveted him as a prospect.
That has continued in the NFL, but such adversity has led to a very unusual fourth season for the Colts franchise quarterback.
"Some different challenges have presented themselves this year," Luck said Wednesday.
"I know I wasn't playing very good football to start the season off. Now, I have to deal with injuries. Shoot, that's sports. That's football. No one feels sorry for you. Keep plugging away. (We're) sitting at 5-5 with a chance to do what we want to do. It's sort of like a playoff game each week. That's the mentality."
