Despite loss, Luck makes triumphant NFL return
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck finally made his return to the field Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals - 616 days after his last NFL game.
Luck, who missed the entire 2017 season after encountering multiple setbacks in his shoulder rehab after surgery, certainly wasn't eased into action. The pivot attempted a whopping 53 passes, completing 39 for 319 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception.
Despite a 34-23 loss, the former No. 1 overall pick exceeded expectations, delivering a number accurate throws and displaying his pre-injury arm strength. His best may have been on his first touchdown to Eric Ebron:
WHAT. A. THROW
- NFL UK (@NFLUK) September 9, 2018
Welcome back Andrew Luck TMTM
It's been too long... pic.twitter.com/JhLZzjnMJR
Luck also displayed his patented toughness, often at the expense of Colts fans' hearts.
With three minutes remaining in the first quarter, Luck scrambled in an attempt to secure a first down, but Bengals safety Shawn Williams delivered a vicious helmet-to-helmet hit. Williams was ejected shortly after:
The referee decided to eject the CIN defender in #CINvsIND. I confirmed. pic.twitter.com/bYYF2z6Dmx
- Al Riveron (@alriveron) September 9, 2018
Luck was unscathed and put his team in position to seal a victory. Down 27-23 with 40 seconds to play, he hit Jack Doyle in the red zone, only for the tight end to fumble the ball, which the Bengals returned 83 yards for a touchdown.
The Colts may be 0-1, but Luck passed his first test of the season with flying colors. He didn't stretch the field often, but the star signal-caller displayed natural pocket presence and good arm strength. The performance is certainly encouraging for his long-term outlook.
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