Luck will be 'very nervous' for Colts' preseason opener

Andrew Luck has passed each test thus far this offseason, but the Indianapolis Colts quarterback has a big exam coming up this week.
The Colts head to Seattle to face the Seahawks in their preseason opener on Thursday night. Luck is expected to play about a quarter, his first time throwing a football in any game action since Jan. 1, 2017.
"Nervous? I'll be very nervous," Luck told Peter King of NBC

Sports about Thursday's tilt.

Hopefully not nervous enough to lose his lunch.
Getting through the preseason audition unscathed will be a key step for Luck. It's the first time he'll truly be in harm's way during his comeback.
Hopefully not nervous enough to lose his lunch.
Getting through the preseason audition unscathed will be a key step for Luck. It's the first time he'll truly be in harm's way during his comeback.
Practice reports suggest Luck is mostly on track to be back to normal once the season starts, with his deep ball seemingly improving by the day and the zip on his passes returning.
"I've been able to turn off the governor in my mind," Luck said. "I'm just going out there throwing balls. There is nothing holding me back. There are some things that feel really good, like an old sweatshirt that you put on that just fits well. And there are some things that still feel awkward and new and wobbly, per se."
Getting hit and landing on that injured shoulder is another step to take in the process. Making it through the preseason tilt and feeling good afterward will be a big stride in ensuring Luck is ready for a full workload once the season opens.
After more than 19 months without playing a game, Luck's preseason debut will be one of the most anticipated developments of the exhibition season.
Tony Gonzalez finished out his career with the Atlanta Falcons earning three straight seasons of 850-plus yards receiving, with at least seven TDs each year.
The Falcons haven't had a tight end come close to duplicating those numbers since Gonzalez walked away in 2013. The nearest an Atlanta TE has come to matching the future Hall of Famer was the Jacob Tamme campaign of 2015, in which he went for 657 yards and one TD. For the most part, the Falconshave moved the ball with replacement-level production from the tight end position.
The Falcons hope Austin Hooper can change that dynamic in 2018. The 2016 third-round pick has improved his stats each season, corralling 49 passes for 526 yards and three TDs last season. Could this season be his breakout campaign?
During the offseason, Hooper stayed in the Atlanta area to work more with quarterback Matt Ryan. The early reviews are positive for the tight end.
"Hooper's been like a dog this offseason -- over and over, he'd catch everything Matt threw and bring it back," coach Dan Quinn told Peter King of NBC Sports.
There is plenty of room for the 23-year-old tight end to grow. He's coming off a season in which he had just two games of 50-plus yards -- none after Week 4.
In a passing offense that boasts Julio Jones, Mohamed Sanu, first-round pick Calvin Ridley, and running back Tevin Coleman, getting consistent production from Hooper would make the Falcons' O scary.