clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Russell Wilson-Andrew Luck debate remains shelved with Luck going on injured reserve

NFL: Indianapolis Colts at Cincinnati Bengals
Andrew Luck explains to Andy Dalton how great it is to be getting paid not to get his kidney lacerated.
David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

The Indianapolis Colts have made a decision regarding the 2017 season of quarterback Andrew Luck, and that is that his season is over. According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Luck will be placed on IR and will thus miss the entirety of the 2017 season.

With Luck heading to IR without having played a single game this season, he will join every single other member of the 2012 first round quarterbacks - Ryan Tannehill, Robert Griffin III and Brandon Weeden - in throwing exactly zero passes so far in 2017. In contrast, third rounder Russell Wilson and fourth rounder Kirk Cousins both continue to perform at a high level through the first eight weeks of the season.

Interestingly, with Luck and Tannehill both injured, RG3 unemployed and Weeden filling a backup role in Tennessee, the debate about who is currently the third best active quarterback from the 2012 draft comes down to Brock Osweiler and Nick Foles. Unless we include the CFL, in which case we can also consider Ryan Lindley in the debate.

In any case, with Luck moving to IR, that paves the way for Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson to take hold of the lead of first place in nearly every single major statistical category for QBs taken in the 2012 draft. And when I say every, I mean every. As of right now Wilson is first in that group in wins (61), second in completions (1,640, just 13 behind Tannehill), third in pass attempts (112 behind Luck, 98 behind Tannehill), first in passing yards (20,201), first in TDs (142), first in rushing yards (2,883), tied for first with Luck in rushing TDs (14), tied with Luck for first in Pro Bowl appearances (3) and tied with Osweiler for Super Bowl Rings (1). Though Wilson actually started the game in which he earned his ring, so by virtue of that tiebreaker, I think we can go ahead and give him that category.

The only category in which he likely will not be able to catch Luck before the end of 2017 is interceptions, where he would have to toss an astounding 20 picks in the next nine games to surpass Luck.

In any case, we wish Andrew Luck all the best and a speedy recovery, and now it simply remains to be seen if the national media will take notice of which QB taken in the 2012 draft is truly elite.