offensive tackle Dan France from the Cleveland Browns practice squad on Tuesda

INDIANAPOLIS -- Andrew Luck looked good and sounded even better Monday.More importantly, he said all the right things.A little more than a week after entering the concussion protocol and four days after missing his first game of the season, the Indianapolis Colts franchise quarterback returned to the practice field -- an optimistic sign he could play next Monday night against the New York Jets.You have to be prudent with your brain, cautious is maybe the wrong word, Luck said. Theres a protocol for a reason and we have to do this by the book. I believe I have and the doctors and trainers have done a good job of sort of holding my hand to get through this process.Luck complained of concussion-like symptoms following a Nov. 20 win over Tennessee.It wasnt immediately clear when Luck was injured and he shed no additional light on what happened during his first interview since getting hurt. He also said it was the first time hes been diagnosed with a concussion.Coach Chuck Pagano acknowledged Monday that Luck had already cleared several steps of the protocol and is expected to take the next one when he returns to a full practice Wednesday.If Luck does well enough, an independent doctor could subsequently clear Luck to play in next weeks game against the Jets (3-8).Lucks backup, the rarely used Scott Tolzien , struggled in Thursdays loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.When word spread around the Colts locker room that Luck could return Monday night, the news was welcomed.Scott did a great job, but any time you can be healthy as an offense you have a chance to be successful, center Ryan Kelly said.Kelly missed most of Thursdays game with a left shoulder injury and is hopeful of returning at the Jets. Receiver T.Y. Hilton (lower back) and outside linebacker Robert Mathis (biceps) also did not finish the game.If Luck, Kelly, Hilton and safety Clayton Geathers (concussion) all return this week, the timing couldnt be better.Indy (5-6) needs to string together wins over the final five weeks to chase down AFC South leader Houston (6-5) and second-place Tennessee (6-6). The Colts already swept both meetings with the Titans this season.The reeling Jets have lost three straight. The Colts still have home games against the Texans and Jacksonville and road trips to Minnesota and Oakland.Luck gives Indy the best chance to make up ground.The Colts missed the postseason last season for the first time in four years and they havent missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons since 1997 and 1998.But staying healthy the past two seasons has been difficult for Luck.Hes already been sacked a league-high 35 times and been hit several more times this season, before sitting out Thursday night.In 2015, Luck spent more than half the season on the sideline with a variety of injuries including a lacerated kidney that cost him the final seven games. The Colts went 6-3 in Lucks absence.The difference this season is that Indy doesnt have a longtime veteran with Super Bowl experience to bail them out, so they need Luck to continue lining up, getting up and making plays over this final stretch.And nobody knows it better than Luck.Its no fun (sitting out), but once youre out, you have to do what you can to help your team, Luck said. I feel great. Im 100 percent. Im ready to go.Game notesPagano was asked whether Mathis was considered day to day after the long weekend. Pagano responded: Yeah, you could say that. ... Outside linebacker Trent Cole, who has been on injured reserve, returned to the practice field Monday but has not yet been activated.---For more NFL coverage: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFLWhitey Herzog Cardinals Jersey . -- Canadian Andrew Wiggins got the ball on the wing, made a nifty spin move and then let go with a soft floater from about 10 feet that swished through the net in Allen Fieldhouse. Roger Maris Jersey . The 43-year-old closer, in his 19th and final big league season, has said hed like to play the outfield. Yankees manager Joe Girardi says hes thinking about allowing Rivera to do it this weekend, when the Yankees finish their season with a three-game series at the Houston Astros. http://www.authenticcardinalspro.com/cardinals-drew-robinson-jersey/ . Numbers Game looks into the Canadiens securing the services of Thomas Vanek in a trade with the New York Islanders. The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick. Matt Wieters Jersey . Tuesdays surgery at Atlantas Piedmont Hospital was performed by Dr. Xavier Duralde and Hawks team physician Dr. Michael Bernot. Andrew Miller Jersey .J. -- Pitcher Carl Pavano is retiring after 14 major league seasons.The Carolina Panthers have placed two-time All-Pro center Ryan Kalil and his primary backup Gino Gradkowski on injured reserve, further weakening an offensive line that has been decimated by injuries this season.Carolina signed free agent center Ryan Wendell and offensive tackle Dan France from the Cleveland Browns practice squad on Tuesday to fill out the 53-man roster.Kalil had missed three of the past four games with a shoulder injury. Gradkowski recently injured his knee.Tyler Larsen, who filled in at ccenter on Sunday against the Oakland Raiders, is expected to start this week at center when the Panthers visit the Seattle Seahawks.ddddddddddddThe Panthers previously lost left tackle Michael Oher to a season-ending concussion and backup offensive tackle Daryl Williams injured his leg on Sunday.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '