Andrew Luck walked into the Colts' locker Ace Sanders Jerseyroom Wednesday dressed in his customary shorts and baseball cap.

It was no routine appearance.

In his first public comments since being diagnosed with a lacerated kidney and a partially torn abdominal muscle, Indianapolis' franchise quarterback said he felt better, was confident he'd return before the end of the regular season, and is starting to increase his rehab work.

And now, Luck acknowledges, he needs to do a better job protecting himself.

''Part of it I brought upon myself for not sliding in certain situations,'' he said. ''There's a time http://www.shopjaguars... a place for taking a hit - I'm not going to apologize in that sense because sometimes it's appropriate. But sliding is something to improve on.''

Sitting out is not a role Luck is accustomed to.

After winning [url=http://www.shopjaguarsnfljersey.com/Allen-Hurns-Jersey]http://www.shopjagua... starting job as a redshirt freshman, Luck started 38 consecutive games. After being selected No. 1 overall in the 2012 NFL draft, he started 57 straight games, including the playoffs - a streak that ended earlier this season when he missed two games because of a sore throwing shoulder.

Luck's replacement, 40-year-old Matt Hasselbeck, won both.

This time, it's different.

Coach Chuck Pagano said Luck was expected to miss two to six weeks after getting hurt in the fourth quarter of a 27-24 victory over Denver on Nov. 8, and Luck knows it will take more than pain tolerance to be cleared.

''Rest is a huge, huge portion of it, from what the doctors and [url=http://www.officialbengalsnflshop.com/WOMENS_YOUTH_PAUL_DAWSON_JERSEY.html]... Dawson Jerseyeveryone has told me for organs to get healthy,'' Luck said when asked about the recovery process. ''As I understand, organ healing is non-negotiable.''

Luck said he knew something was wrong almost as soon as he took the awkward-looking hit in the Broncos game. But adrenaline kicked in and he continued playing.

Afterward,[url=http://www.officialbengalsnflshop.com/WOMENS_YOUTH_PA... Luck was sore. When the pain didn't dissipate by Nov. 9, team doctors sent him for tests.

The next day, Pagano announced Luck would miss most of the rest of the season.