INDIANAPOLIS — Andrew Luck's big secret is finally out. He's been throwing a football for weeks — and now he's throwing in public, too.

Nearly 17 months after undergoing surgery on his injured right shoulder, Luck jogged onto the practice field Tuesday wearing a red jersey, strapping on a helmet and picking up a special ball as he started throwing in front of reporters for the first time since October.

No, it wasn't a regulation NFL ball and the longest pass he attempted was only about a 20-yard lob, but it still was progress.

"It's a lighter football," Luck said, referring to the striped football he tossed around. "It's sort of a bridge. I've thrown a real football, 'The Duke,' whatever you want to call it. I've picked it up and I've thrown it, and it felt great. And honestly, there was a little mental block to doing it and I had to do it sort of by myself."

Raiders' Mack holding out of minicamp

Khalil Mack is holding out from the mandatory minicamp for the Oakland Raiders.

Mack stayed away from the first day of the three-day minicamp on Tuesday. He is subject to a fine of more than $80,000 if he doesn't show up at all this week.

Mack is entering the final season of his rookie contract that is set to pay him $13.8 million. Mack is seeking a long-term deal and hasn't participated in the entire offseason program in the first year under new coach Jon Gruden.

Mack has been one of the top defensive players in football since being drafted in the first round in 2014. He was a first-team All-Pro at both defensive end and linebacker in 2015 and won AP Defensive Player of the Year in 2016. He has 40 ½ sacks in four seasons and leads the NFL in QB pressures with 185.5 since entering the league, according to SportRadar.

Panthers' Kuechly says he'll be ready by training camp

Carolina Panthers four-time All-Pro middle linebacker Luke Kuechly says he should be ready for full contact when training camp begins following offseason surgery for a torn labrum in his shoulder.

Kuechly participated in individual drills during minicamp Tuesday, but was held out of team drills.

The 27-year-old Kuechly called that a "bummer," saying "that's the best part of OTAs and minicamp. But it's still good to be out here."

He elected to wait until after the season to have surgery.

Considered one of the most cerebral linebackers in the league, Kuechly is the anchor of a defense that is perennially ranked in the top 10 in the league. He has been selected to the Pro Bowl in five of his six seasons.

Notable

Julio Jones remains in coach Dan Quinn's good graces even after missing the opening day of the Atlanta Falcons' mandatory minicamp. Quinn says he found out Monday that Jones would skip the minicamp for "business" reasons. ... All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald is not attending the Los Angeles Rams' mandatory minicamp while he continues his lengthy quest for a lucrative new contract. ... Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson skipped the first day of the Cardinals' mandatory minicamp Tuesday amid reports that the sides are discussing a new contract. ... Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has been cleared to practice although the star New York Giants' receiver did little work in team periods at the opening of the first mandatory minicamp under new coach Pat Shurmur. ... A St. Louis jury ordered the Rams to pay former running back Reggie Bush $12.5 million for a severe knee injury suffered at St. Louis' domed stadium in 2015, the team's final season before moving to Los Angeles.