Carolina Panthers: Facing an Injured Andrew Luck?

So what do the Carolina Panthers have to look forward to tonight?

They are playing the Indianapolis Colts in the friendly confines of Bank of America Stadium. The Colts (3-4) are having a tough year with a lot of internal stress between the ownership and the team. Jim Irsay has reportedly argued with GM Ryan Grigson and Coach Chuck Pagano is on the hot seat.

Grigson and Pagano have not seen eye to eye either which is unusual considering that some of the players Grigson had brought in the off season were guys that had some tie to Pagano. The additions of aging veterans Frank Gore and Andre Johnson have not transformed the Colts into Super Bowl contenders yet.

That is because the Colts problems are more the core of their offense and defense than with the weapons. The Colts offensive line has looked bad, and it gets to play NFC Defensive Player of the Month Kawan Short and a healthier Jared Allen. The Colts defense has given up at least twenty points in all of the teams’ losses.

An NFL contender starts with the offensive and defensive lines. The Panthers have at least part of that formula down, and their line has been stable during their undefeated run to get to 6-0. The Colts do not seem to have that figured out. This is why Grigson and Pagano are in danger despite leading the AFC South at this point of the season.

However the Colts’ problem goes deeper than just trying to ignore some basic principles of building a football team. At the core of cores, it is Andrew Luck’s team. Luck has been great for two years and the Colts have thrived. This year Luck has been not so great and no one could figure out why.

Well now perhaps we know. According to reports from Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer, Luck is injured. Glazer reports that Luck has been playing with cracked ribs and a hurt shoulder. The Colts had not reported the rib injury and still claim to know nothing about it or at least that they did not violate the NFL’s injury report protocols.

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The NFL is checking to see about the latter. If true, this would certainly explain Luck’s lack of performance on the field. He has thrown nine interceptions this season already. However if it is true, who would want to hurt the Colts with NFL fines or draft pick losses?

Warning: This is a Rabbit Hole. If you don’t want to visit it, please skip this paragraph. One option could be Luck, to preserve his image. Pagano could do it to show that he has not been responsible for the losing. For crazy conspiracies, the Patriots could do it to get back at the Colts for Deflategate. I am hoping that none of these things are the case.

Next: Panthers: Lessons from Colts-Saints

The Panthers still need to prepare for Luck as if he is 100%. It does no good for the Panthers to believe there is an injured Luck and then have him shred a complacent defense for three hundred yards. Because deep down, there is a sneaky feeling that Luck could do that.

Which brings up what this Glazer leak might really be, information to throw the Panthers off whether it is true or not.

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