Colts swear that Andrew Luck will be healthy for Week 1

We’ve heard things like this before, but the Colts say Andrew Luck has turned a corner in his rehab from shoulder surgery.

Last season, the months between January shoulder surgery and Week 1, the Indianapolis Colts were pretty steadfast that Andrew Luck would be ready to go. Then, he wasn’t. He started practicing in October, then a month later was put on season-ending IR.

Amid basically a year of progress, no progress, fits, starts and a trip to Europe to seek treatment, Luck’s status remains up in the air looking toward another season. General manager Chris Ballard and new head coach Frank Reich have expressed optimism as expected. But until Luck is at least on a practice field throwing normally for awhile, without setbacks, questions will remain.

Luck started throwing weighted footballs a little over a month ago now, which seems like a sign of progress. Speaking with reporters at the league meetings in Orlando on Monday, Colts owner Jim Irsay is on board with that positive sign.

“All indicators are (the) healing is going really well and we feel really optimistic that he’s turned the corner and has a full decade ahead of him of excellence,’’ Irsay said. “That’s a long period of time.’’

Luck seems on track to take part in Colts’ offseason work on some level, and Irsay echoed that.

“I expect him to throw quite a bit,’’ he said. “I expect him to channel his Brett Favre, if you will, and just say ‘The hell with it . . . let’s go play football, let’s go rock and roll.’

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Luck’s value to the Colts is obvious. A poor roster constructed by former general manager Ryan Grigson has been exposed in the 2012 No. 1 pick’s absence, with the record to back it up. The Colts are 43-27 with Luck under center during the regular season, and 10-16 without him (4-12 last year). Any chance for Indianapolis to rebound back to playoff contention in 2018 rests on that (now fragile) throwing shoulder.