Colts QB Luck to return April 2

INDIANAPOLIS -- Andrew Luck is not yet throwing a football but Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich said the quarterback will be with the team April 2 for the start of the offseason program.

Reich said Luck is "checking a lot of boxes" in his rehab, but is unsure when he will throw again.

General manager Chris Ballard, who followed Reich to the podium at the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indianapolis Convention Center, said it will "absolutely" help the team and Luck to be back in the building.

"I think it's what he wants, it's what he misses," Ballard said. "It's one of the special things about this kid. He likes to be considered one of the teammates. The only other (star) player I've ever been around like that is (Brian) Urlacher. He just wants to be one of the guys."

In what capacity Luck will return is up in the air. Ballard said Luck's return will not be rushed.

Ballard chuckled when pressed about how often he receives updates on Luck's health. Luck missed the entire 2017 season recovering from shoulder surgery that took place in January 2017. He was shut down after briefly returning to practice.

"They come from Andrew, and the people he's working with -- pretty regularly, let's put it that way," Ballard said.

The Colts draft third overall and Ballard said it's far too early to guess what sort of help might be available to a Luck-led offense. Franchise form could lead Ballard to consider the next Marshall Faulk-type, or another Edgerrin James, depending on how the team views Penn State running back Saquon Barkley.

"One of the things I think we really need are some difference-makers to make those third-down plays, those game-winning plays," Ballard said. "That's why the third pick is so important."

--Jeff Reynolds, Field Level Media