Andrew Luck could feel the pressure building as he prepared for his first game action with Indianapolis since the final week of the 2016
season.
When he let go of trying to contain his excitement
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"I really enjoyed it. I didn't quite know I'd have this much fun getting practice again. I didn't know I'd have this much fun even playing football,"
Luck said. "It's a preseason game, I'm not going to blow anything out of
proportion, but it's still a game, a chance to go up against another color
jersey. It was a fun step along the way."
Luck was back under center, leading Indianapolis on a pair of field-goal drives in just over a quarter in the Colts' 19-17 victory over the Seattle
Seahawks on Thursday night.
The reintroduction of Luck as the Colts' leader started with a 17-yard swing pass to Marlon Mack on the first play. It concluded early in the second quarter
when his pass intended for T.Y. Hilton was broken up. In between, Luck was
bear-hugged by Seattle All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner on a scramble run, sacked
by Rasheem Green, and also showed flashes his surgically repaired right shoulder
is ready to allow him to again be a premier quarterback.
Luck completed 6 of 9 passes for 64 yards, most of that coming on the opening drive when he hit 5 of 7. Luck completed passes to five receivers and threw from
a clean pocket on most of his dropbacks
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It had been nearly 600 days since Luck was last on the field, when he threw for 321 yards in a 24-20 win over Jacksonville on Jan. 1, 2017. For one night,
Luck looked like his pre-surgery form.
"He just kept saying how excited he was and right before he went out he said 'There's a lot of emotions right now let's see if I can control them,'"
Indianapolis coach Frank Reich said. "It was almost like he was saying, 'I'm
going to need to control how I'm feeling, because I'm pretty jacked up.' And he
came out in the first drive and handled it like we expected."
Adam Vinatieri made field goals of 33, 51 and 45 yards in the first half, and Michael Badgley's 34-yarder late in the third quarter gave Indianapolis a 12-10
lead. Phillip Walker added a 10-yard TD pass to Darrell Daniels early in the
fourth quarter.
Luck's counterpart from the 2012 draft, Russell Wilson
Mike Smith Jersey , played one series for Seattle. Wilson was 4 of 5 for 43 yards and capped his only drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass to tight end
Nick Vannett. It was Wilson's first action playing in the offense of new
coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, which will be heavily tilted toward the run.
Second-year running back Chris Carson averaged 6.5 yards per carry in limited
action.
Seattle's defense scored with 3:15 left when an errant snap was recovered by Joey Ivie for a touchdown.
NATIONAL ANTHEM
Three Seattle players ran into the team's locker room prior to the national anthem.
Defensive linemen Branden Jackson and Quinton Jefferson, and offensive lineman Duane Brown left the field following team introductions and before the
start of the anthem. They returned to the sideline immediately after it
concluded. All three were among a group of Seattle players that sat during the
anthem last season.
Brown and Jefferson said they intend to continue the action all season.
"The team was aware of everyone's emotions and feelings going forward and we're all supportive of each other," Brown said.
There were no other actions by either Seattle or Indianapolis players during the performance of the anthem.
EJECTION
Indianapolis safety Shamarko Thomas was ejected late in the fourth quarter after a helmet-to-helmet hit on Seattle wide receiver David Moore.
SHAQUEM'S DEBUT
Seattle rookie linebacker Shaquem Griffin was all over the field in his debut. Griffin led Seattle with nine tackles, flashing the speed that made him a
star in college. But he was also bullied on one play when Indianapolis tight end
Jack Doyle used his size to create separation from Griffin on contact and made a
9-yard reception from Luck.
"It felt good to kind of get out there and get your feet wet and kind of get some hits in," Griffin said. "I know the way the league works you don't really
get a chance to really tackle too much so to kind of get out there and get a few
tackles in."
INJURY REPORT
The most significant injury was Mack leaving late in the first quarter with a hamstring issue. Mack had four carries and two receptions in the first quarter.
He wasn't likely to get much more action, but is still a concern going forward.
Indianapolis coach Frank Reich didn't have any more of an update postgame.
Seattle backup offensive tackle Isaiah Battle limped off the field with a sprained knee in the third quarter, but Seattle coach Pete Carroll said it
didn't appear severe. Battle had been gaining on Germain Ifedi for the starting
right tackle spot. Rookie tackle Jamarco Jones also had to be carted off in the
fourth quarter after injuring his left ankle. Carroll said X-rays were negative
but it was a significant sprain.
Indianapolis also lost wide receivers James Wright and Deon Cain to knee injuries during the game.
NEXT UP
Colts: Indianapolis returns home to host Baltimore on Aug. 20.
Seahawks: Seattle will travel to the Los Angeles Chargers on Aug. 18.
Pitcher Wade LeBlanc is guaranteed $2.75 million under a new contract with the Seattle Mariners covering 2019, a deal with three options that would be
worth $31.3 million over four years if he pitches 180 innings or more each
season.
A left-hander who turns 34 next month, LeBlanc gets a $300
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and 2022 that could become guaranteed, each with a $450,000 buyout.
His 2020 salary would become guaranteed if he pitches 160 innings in 2019, and the 2021 and `22 options would become guaranteed if he pitches 160 innings
in the previous season or 310 innings in the two previous seasons combined. The
options would become guaranteed only if he does not have an injury to his left
arm.
LeBlanc could earn $2 million annually in performance bonuses based on innings: $100,000 each for 90 and 100, $150,000 apiece for 110 and 120, $200,000
each for 130 and 140
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any performance bonuses earned.
He would have been eligible for salary arbitration next winter and for free agency after the 2020 World Series.
LeBlanc is 4-0 with a 3.19 ERA in 12 starts and five relief appearances this season, leaving his career record at 34-35 in 10 big league seasons. He is with
his eight big league organization, signing with Seattle late in spring training
following his release by the New York Yankees.
LeBlanc has a $650,000 base salary this year and a provision for $25,000 bonuses for 10 and 20 starts. He also earned $96,000 in termination pay with the
Yankees.
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