Colts GM Ballard eyes rookie quarterback class; Castonzo to return in 2020

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Chris Ballard waited and waited … and waited.

Then came the question. “Luck?!”

“He’s retired,” Ballard said and laughed. “That’s good though … 12 minutes before the Andrew Luck question. That’s good.”

That’s what we call progress! 12 entire minutes. Incredible! A new leader in the clubhouse in terms of Ballard’s interview sessions.

Is there more progress coming at quarterback courtesy of a rookie who can help right away? It’s the talk that dominated Tuesday on the Colts end.

“I think it is what can they handle?” Ballard said. “What can they handle? If they can handle the offense and the coordinator and Frank (Reich) and them can put him a position to succeed and we can win games, yeah you play him. But if he is not ready to do that, then you wait.”

On a news front, Anthony Castonzo stole the show on Tuesday. Ballard broke the news right off the bat Tuesday that the Colts 31-year-old left tackle is coming back in 2020. After contemplating retirement this offseason, details of a contract extension are still being worked out, but the team does not intend on placing a franchise tag on Castonzo.

The line is solid. The next item of business: Can 30-year-old T.Y. Hilton get some help on the outside? Ballard called this batch of rookie receivers “special” on Tuesday.

A quarterback and a playmaking wide receiver inbound to Indianapolis this off season — any objections?