Andrwe Luck still out of action with lacerated kidney as crunch match looms

Luck will miss his ninth game of the season when he sits out Sunday's regular-season finale against the Tennessee Titans because of his unhealed lacerated kidney.

But according to Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star, Luck sustained torn cartilage on two of his ribs and was still coping with significant pain after returning to the lineup for four games in late October and early November.

An NFL source said the injury likely affected Luck's performance after he returned from a two-game absence that the Colts attributed to a shoulder injury.

Luck, according to the source, needed pain-killing injections to play and was limited by the injury, which impacted his throwing motion and accuracy.

The information provided by the IndyStar source is similar to a report from Fox Sports' Jay Glazer, who said in November that Luck was dealing with fractured ribs and was playing through the pain.

Luck missed games against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Oct. 4 and Houston Texans on Oct. 8 before returning to play an Oct. 18 game against the New England Patriots. The Colts attributed his absence to a shoulder injury but never mentioned his ribs.

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Colts coach Chuck Pagano said Friday he is not sure who will be the starting quarterback, with both Matt Hasselbeck (shoulder) and Luck declared out for Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans.

Backup quarterback Charlie Whitehurst (hamstring) was placed on injured reserve this week after getting hurt in last Sunday's 18-12 win over the Miami Dolphins.

The Colts are left with recently signed quarterbacks Josh Freeman and Ryan Lindley as well as undrafted free agent rookie Stephen Morris.

Morris was signed off of the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad last week, but the two veterans have been getting the first-team snaps at practice this week.

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Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine, who has received no assurances from owner Jimmy Haslam about 2016, expects changes on his staff if he survives.

Pettine signed a four-year deal with a team option for the fifth year to be the team's coach early in 2014. The Browns started 7-4 a year ago but have lost 17 of their past 20 games.

Haslam said in training camp he would not "blow it up" after this season, but a 3-12 campaign has led to speculation about Pettine's future.

"Those discussions will remain between Jimmy and I,'' Pettine said Thursday. "Will there likely be some changes? If I were to stay here, it would be hard to justify keeping the staff completely together, and there likely would have to be some changes made, but I won't get into specifics."

The Browns' defense has been one of the biggest disappointments this season. The defense has fallen to 26th overall, 32nd against the run and 29th with 26.9 points allowed per game.

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Carolina running back Jonathan Stewart will miss his third straight game with a foot injury when the Panthers face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Sunday's regular-season finale.

Stewart was officially ruled out on Friday. He sprained his left foot in a victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Dec. 13. Stewart leads the Panthers with 989 yards and six touchdowns.

Receiver Ted Ginn Jr. (knee) is listed as doubtful with a knee injury. Ginn has a career-best 10 touchdown receptions, two of which came against Tampa Bay earlier this season.

The Panthers (14-1) can clinch home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with a victory.

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