Season opener: Colts at Rams, 4:05 p.m. Sept. 10, CBS

INDIANAPOLIS -- As expected, the Indianapolis Colts are planning to move franchise quarterback Andrew Luck to the active roster before Saturday's 4 p.m. deadline.

First-year General Manager Chris Ballard said as much prior to Thursday night's preseason finale.

"All indications are we're going to take Andrew off PUP," Ballard told Colts radio host Bob Lamey on the pregame show.

The move will allow Luck to practice with the team for the first time in eight months; if he remained on the physically unable to perform list to start the regular season, he'd be required to miss at least the first six weeks of the season.

It remains a long shot Luck is able to ready himself in just four practices for the team's Sept. 10 regular season opener in Los Angeles.

Colts owner Jim Irsay hopped on the Fox59 broadcast of Thursday's game and offered this when asked about how long it will take Luck to return to his previous form:

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"It’s a great question," Irsay said. "It’s been said before by one of the greatest athletes and competitors who’ve played any sport – the quote was this: 'These games, all games, are played on a four-inch field between your ears.' That’s where it’s at. You have to be able to deal with this, not only physically but mentally. I have no doubt that Andrew Luck, the person that is, he’s going to come out of this thing not just how he was but a better quarterback. When is the question. That timetable is more on the football Gods and Andrew’s gut feeling on how he’s feeling."

For the second straight day, when the topic of Luck's return was broached, Irsay made no mention of Week 1.

Pressed about it earlier this week, coach Chuck Pagano acknowledged it will take Luck some time to get himself in game shape.

“We’re not going to know until we get him out here,” Pagano said. “When the doctors say he’s ready and he’s 100 percent and he can start practicing, then we’ll have that answer.”

Takeaways from Thursday's preseason game, a 7-6 win over the Cincinnati Bengals

1. No shuffling at QB

All signs point to Scott Tolzien, and not Stephen Morris, being the guy at quarterback come Week 1 barring a miracle return to the fold by Andrew Luck (don’t bet on it). Tolzien went 4-for-5 for 24 yards in two series worth of work before retiring for the night. Morris went 2-for-5 for 51 yards in the Colts' 7-6 victory.

Morris has done enough in recent weeks to cement a roster spot – with Luck’s uncertain status, the Colts have to keep three quarterbacks – but it’s a long shot he is elevated to the first team a week shy of the opener. The Colts are siding with experience. Tolzien’s started three games in his career, Morris none.

2. Rough night for Le’Raven Clark

It’s not necessarily a bad thing if you’re playing in the preseason finale. But if you’re playing well into the second quarter, that likely means your roster spot isn’t secure.

Le’Raven Clark began training camp as this team’s right tackle. The job was his lose. By the second preseason game, he’d lost it. And in a clear indicator into how far Clark had tumbled down the depth chart, Clark found himself playing much too long Thursday night.

The tackle position is tricky. If the Colts move ahead with starters Anthony Castonzo and Jeremy Vujnovich, and keep rookie Zach Banner as a reserve, Clark’s roster spot could be in jeopardy.

3. Has JoJo done enough?

The undrafted rookie trying to become the smallest NFL player to suit up in a game in five years has been the Colts’ most electrifying player this preseason. Has it been enough to earn him a job? We’ll see.

Natson did more of the same Thursday night, hauling in two passes for a team-best 56 yards and nearly breaking a kick return for a touchdown. What won’t help: Natson put the ball on the field three times. Yes, three.

The Colts recovered each of the fumbles, but that suddenly becomes a huge concern for the 5-7, 153-pound receiver coach Chuck Pagano affectionately calls “The Flea.”

Call Star reporter Zak Keefer at (317) 444-6134 and follow him on Twitter: @zkeefer.