The AFC South could quite possibly be the only division in NFL football in which all four teams have a shot at finishing first.

The likelihood of the Indianapolis Colts being contenders has certainly increased after Andrew Luck was seen throwing footballs at practice for the first time since October 2017.

Luck missed all of the 2017 season after undergoing shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum. 

The happy-go-lucky quarterback has already had his fair share of injuries, including a concussion and an abdomen muscle tear on top of the aforementioned torn labrum he suffered all the way back in the 2015 season. The 2018 season looks to be the first time he’s playing at 100 percent in a long time. 

In 2016, Luck was sacked 41 times, the fifth most sacks taken by a quarterback that year—and it got worse. In 2017, a mobile Jacoby Brissett was sacked an NFL-most 52 times. 

This is exactly why the Colts drafted two offensive linemen within their first three picks of this year’s draft.  Guards Quenton Nelson and Braden Smith should make an immediate impact on a struggling O-line. 

So, what does this mean big picture?

The AFC South division battle is going to be a whole lot of fun. 

You already saw what Mariota and the Titans are capable of as they upset the Chiefs on Wild Card Weekend. The Jaguars’ stifling defense led them to the AFC Championship. We saw the splash Deshaun Watson made with the Texans while he was healthy. And now, the Colts will get their 2012 first overall draft pick back. 

You can go ahead and call this the best division of the 2018 NFL season barring any major injuries.

All the pieces within the AFC South are in place now. All four teams should be contenders to get into the postseason and it’ll sure be a lot of fun to watch