NFL news and notes: Colts cope with Andrew Luck aftermath; Odell Beckham Jr. back at practice

Kirstie Chiappelli

•
NFL news and notes: Colts cope with Andrew Luck aftermath; Odell Beckham Jr. back at practice image

Andrew Luck sent shockwaves through the NFL this weekend as he announced his retirement at age 29, shifting the focus of the final week of the preseason to the Colts.

But life goes on elsewhere around the NFL as teams get ready to flip the calendar and turn their attention to the regular season.

Three things that matter

Colts need a new quarterback

It's widely assumed that backup Jacoby Brissett will take over the starting role now that Luck is gone, but coach Frank Reich and the Colts have yet to make him the official opening-day starter.

"We have not had that deep down heart to heart about the upcoming season just yet," Reich told reporters . "That will probably happen in the next day or two."

Reich acknowledged the team is in "good hands" with Brissett going forward and added the team will next determine whether Chad Kelly or Phillip Walker will move up the depth chart. It was also reported that Joshua Dobbs is drawing interest from Indianapolis if Mason Rudolph does, in fact, secure the backup job with the Steelers.

Chiefs needed a quarterback, too, after losing backup

After Kansas City learned Chad Henne would need surgery for his broken right ankle suffered in Saturday's preseason game against the 49ers, the team signed former Panthers and Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore for insurance. The 35-year-old hasn't played since 2017, but just like that, Moore is behind third-year gunslinger Patrick Mahomes. Similar to Henne, Moore is a 10-year NFL veteran who has thrown for 6,938 yards and 45 touchdown passes and 36 interceptions in 49 games, including 30 starts.

Odell Beckham Jr. a full go at Browns practice

The Browns receiver participated in team drills Monday for the first time since early August, indicating he'll likely be ready for Week 1 when the Browns host the Titans.

"He looked good," Browns coach Freddie Kitchens told reporters after practice . "It’s good to have him back out. We’ve been working on the side with him with other things. It’s just the natural progression, so it was good to have him back."

Kitchens added that he doesn't want to overwork Beckham, who has been dealing with a hip injury, or quarterback Baker Mayfield as they continue to get comfortable, assuring "they’ll definitely be on top of their game when we start game planning and timing."

Two things that don't matter

Matt Overton offers help to disgruntled Indy fans

The Jaguars long snapper, who spent five seasons with the Colts from 2012-16 and still lives in Indianapolis, didn't think too highly of the fans that booed Andrew Luck off the field Saturday as reports of his retirement broke. He took things a step further Monday by offering a solution to Colts fans wanting refunds on their season tickets.

We'll see if Overton's suggestion silences Luck's haters, but it's certainly drawn extra support.

Patrick Chung pleads not guilty in cocaine case

The Patriots safety also waived his arraignment scheduled for Wednesday on the possession charge. Chung's next court appearance will be a "dispositional conference" that is scheduled for Nov. 8. He was indicted last Thursday by a New Hampshire grand jury on the charge, a Class B felony in the state that carries a fine of up to $2,000 and a potential prison term of up to seven years. Even if he is found not guilty of the charge, he could face discipline from the NFL for violating the league's personal conduct policy.

But that didn't stop Chung from returning to practice with the team Sunday after he was missing in action late last week.

One video you have to see

Ryan Shazier's appearance on the field ahead of the Steelers' preseason game Sunday against the Titans was so remarkable, it was still being talked about the next day.

Monday's tweet of the day

Luck's retirement was the talk of Twitter for a solid two days, but apparently, Patriots coach Bill Belichick was unaware it happened this weekend, saying "I didn't see that but I don't really follow them."

It was later clarified that Belichick meant he didn't see Luck's retirement coming. Stay grumpy, Bill.

 

Kirstie Chiappelli