The Colts are taking a painstakingly deliberate approach to Andrew Luck’s shoulder rehabilitation this offseason, but there’s reason for more optimism this summer than last, Chris Wesseling of NFL.com reports.

After speaking with team sources, NFL Network’s Charley Casserly reported on Friday’s edition of Rookie Camp Live that the Colts are “very confident” Luck will be ready for training camp in late July.

“There is no question in their mind that he will open training camp throwing the football,” Casserly added. “Right now, they’re being conservative. He’s throwing a weighted ball. That’s where they are right now, but he’s going to start training camp. They’re totally confident in that.”

Luck is healthy enough to participate in offseason practices, but he’s learned the importance of adhering to a strict schedule after missing the entire 2017 season due to the shoulder injury.

It’s been evident for some time, however, that the Colts are counting on the face of the franchise to be fully healthy and capable of withstanding the pounding once the season starts.

Sitting down with Around The NFL Podcast at the Annual League Meeting in late March, new coach Frank Reich was so confident that Luck would “ready to go” that he expressed hope the teams selecting ahead of Indianapolis would target quarterbacks with the first five picks in last month’s draft.

“You plan that he’s going to be there [for Week 1],” Reich said. “All the rehab is checking off all the boxes: Yep, we hit that stage. Stage one, stage two, stage three. It’s all been good. We’ll just have to keep progressing on down that road.”

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After missing the entire 2017 season with a mysterious, lingering injury to his throwing arm, Andrew Luck is appealing to Indianapolis faithful for patience as the Colts assemble for Phase One of the offseason program, Chris Wesseling of NFL.com reports.

Toiling through an extraordinarily deliberate rehabilitation program, Luck began throwing again in February. To this point in the process, however, he has yet to reach the next level of throwing the football.

“When the time is right,” Luck explained, “I’ll pick it up.”

Although the face of the Colts franchise is tempted to accelerate his rehab efforts, he emphasized the importance of diligently following his prescribed timetable.

“I’m not a perfect-feeling athlete right now,” Luck conceded. “… One thing I picked up upon myself is that I’m quite impatient as a person. It has gotten into places — looking back at the rehab — that maybe I shouldn’t have been in, in the first place.

“I don’t want to repeat those missteps. I cannot miss steps. I very, very strongly believe in that. Some things just take time and I’ve learned that. When I do get the urge to do something a little silly, I talk to myself and say it’s not worth it right now.”

Luck and the organization are taking a cautious stance this offseason after getting burned by their open optimism last year. This time around, those positive expectations are more guarded.

Sitting down with Around The NFL Podcast at the Annual League Meeting late last month, new coach Frank Reich expressed hope that teams selecting ahead of the Colts draft quarterbacks because of the strong belief that Luck will be “ready to go” in Week 1.

“You’re hopeful that he’s going to be there,” Reich added. “You plan that he’s going to be there. All the rehab is checking off all the boxes: Yep, we hit that stage. Stage one, stage two, stage three. It’s all been good. We’ll just have to keep progressing on down that road.”

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