Once again, reality differs from representation as Andrew Luck’s shoulder is concerned. Analyzing the status of the Indianapolis Colts starting quarterback.
You will have to pardon the pun here, but I certainly feel as if I am beating a dead horse when it comes to Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck and his shoulder.
Last year, I wrote a pair of pieces entailing the situation with Andrew Luck and his surgically repaired shoulder as well as some personal details of my own surgical procedures. I followed that up with a few thoughts before the draft and here I am once more offering an analysis on the situation.
Here are links to those articles for those interested in rehashing the past:
Andrew Luck: Indianapolis Colts, NFL wait on his shoulder
Indianapolis Colts: Deeper look at Andrew Luck’s Torn Labrum
Indianapolis Colts: QB, or not QB? That is the question
Having five shoulder repairs of my own, I feel justified in calling myself an expert on the more difficult side of a shoulder injury. I certainly wish Luck had gotten my advice before pushing his repair too far, but I know first-hand the desire to work hard and push through. If only shoulder injuries respected that drive and work ethic as much as I do.
We come now to a crossroads of sorts as fans eagerly anticipate his return. Recently, a picture was taken of him riding his bike to the Indy 500 and the emphasis was on his, quite impressive guns. Additional reports have come out about his progression and workouts, and by all accounts, things are sounding very positive.
The NFL Draft came and went without a replacement quarterback being brought in, which also verifies that he is well on his way back to the field. I am a big fan of Luck, both as a person and a player, but given my own insight into shoulder related matters, I must throw caution into the wind.
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One of my biggest concerns is a lack of trust with Chris Ballard, Jim Irsay and the Colts organization. Specifically due to the run around and misinformation following the procedure and leading up to the 2017 season.
Given the nature of the league, I understand withholding certain information and not immediately divulging the type of procedure or the details of a setback. But the way it was presented — or not presented rather — felt a bit shady.
I fully understand how and why such a setback could happen, not only by Luck’s own explanation, but because I did the same, several times. I too had a labral repair and I too pushed too hard, too fast.
Having a team of specialists on hand may have altered the outcome of my situation and I can fairly assume that Andrew likely has a doctor or two in his back pocket around the clock. However, to say everything is just fine is not entirely accurate, even if it appears to be. Many media folks claim that he will be fine because this guy came back from knee surgery, or that guy came back from a foot problem, or ankle, or whatever the case may be.
A shoulder is a very different thing than any other injury. Cam Newton came back okay, you say? One shoulder injury, can be a completely different thing than another. A torn labrum in one case, does not compare to a rotator cuff injury, a seperated AC joint, or even another torn labrum.
When it comes to the human shoulder, no two injuries are alike. Furthermore, no other joint in our bodied faces the strain a shoulder does. And that’s not considering the additional wear and tear of throwing a football, playing with it injured and pushing a repair too far.
Gravity works with knees, hips, ankles, necks and most moving parts we have, except for shoulders. In a shoulder, the force and weight of an arm pulls against the joint rather than pushing it together. A shoulder also moves multi-directionally, meaning in multiple directions. A knee does not. A hip does, but nowhere close to the extent of a shoulder.
My point is that no other injury offers insight. Andrew Luck’s shoulder injury is not the same as anyone else’s injury. To claim so is unfounded, uninformed, and assinine.
That does not mean that he won’t return even better than he was, he may. I hope he does. What it does mean however, is that until he throws a regulation football, gets on the field, takes a few hits, and proves it to be solid, any claims are premature.
I personally had several great years between my first and second repairs. I thought I was out of the water and on solid footing when it let go again. Technically I was 40 feet in the air swinging in a tree with a chainsaw, but it was all good until a bad turn and a pop said it was not.
In case you haven’t been paying attention, my shoulder injury is not like Luck’s. Will his let go as mine did? Well, therein lies my point, I don’t know, nobody does. It is not my intention to cause concern or hinder any hopes, rather to offer a realistic take on reality. It happens.
It is indeed a fantastic thing that he is throwing weighted balls and looking good. His progress appears to be sound and he has the right mindset to succeed. His return will offer its own set of challenges, as I briefly detailed over a year ago. He must regain the trust he has in his shoulder. Some of that process has passed, but until a 350-pound lineman drives his shoulder into the ground, and it proves ok, he still has a whole lot to go through.
Re-learning to have faith in a part that broke is not easy. Feeling pain and fear following any concerning action is not easy. The remainder of his recovery, will not be easy. Having the insight that I do, I encourage you to be extremely patient as the 2018 eventually gets underway, much as he has learned he needs to.
In my mind there are two possible outcomes, each just as likely as the other.
- Luck makes a complete recovery, finishes his career, and laughs at the memory until the arthritis sets in, or
- Luck’s shoulder is fine, until its not.
That, of course, is assuming the information we are being fed is mostly accurate.
I certainly wish I could hop aboard the optimism train and have complete faith that Andrew Luck’s struggles have been left behind. Unfortunately, life has its own set of tracks and only the conductor knows the destination.
Update: Shortly after writing this piece, the news broke that Andrew Luck will not be throwing at OTAs. Many find great concern in that, whereas I do not. Given the setback last year, all things in time. I cannot stress enough, the vital importance of forcing a slow progression. There is no need to push the envelope. That said, if there were more to the story, would they really say?