INDIANAPOLIS — Andrew Luck’s tough season took an even bigger hit Tuesday when the Colts announced he would miss two to six weeks with a lacerated kidney and a partially torn abdominal muscle.

Coach Chuck Pagano broke the news on an unscheduled conference call with reporters.

Pagano said the injuries should not require surgery and that Luck is expected to make a full recovery, possibly before the end of the regular season.

Without Luck, the Colts (4-5) will turn to 40-year-old Matt Hasselbeck, who went 2-0 when Luck was held out because of an injured right shoulder.

“It is one heck of a blow,” Pagano said. “You don’t want to lose anybody. Our guys will respond like they always do. We’ve been through a ton already this season and in the past, and we’ll get through it.”

Not easily in what has been a challenging season for a team that started with Super Bowl aspirations and played like anything but a contender until knocking off previously unbeaten Denver 27-24 on Sunday.

Pagano said Luck was believed to have been injured on a fourth-quarter scramble just before throwing his second touchdown pass of the game to break a 17-17 tie.

After the game, Pagano said, Luck complained of soreness. When he arrived at the team complex Monday, Luck said he felt worse and team doctors sent him for tests that revealed the injuries.

The six-week timetable could be on the shorter end of the spectrum, too, because the Colts will be cautious about bringing Luck back.

“We’re going to keep listening to the doctors and evaluating his progress on a week-by-week basis,” Pagano said. “We’ve got all the confidence in the world in Matt Hasselbeck, and we’re not going to put Andrew back out there until he’s healed and ready to go.”

Players said Monday they thought the victory would give the Colts a jolt of energy coming off a bye week as they head to Atlanta on Nov. 22.

Instead they’re making another change – at quarterback.

In the AFC South, the league’s worst division, Indy still holds a one-game lead over Houston and has a capable backup to bide time until Luck returns.

Hasselbeck was 48 of 76 with 495 yards, three touchdowns with no interceptions in his two starts earlier this season.

STEELERS: Pittsburgh isn’t ruling out quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for Sunday’s game against Cleveland.

Coach Mike Tomlin said the team would leave the door “slightly ajar” for Roethlisberger, who injured his left foot in a win over Oakland last weekend, but that the Steelers will prepare as if Landry Jones will start.

COWBOYS: Running back Joseph Randle was suspended four games by the NFL under the league’s personal conduct policy, one week after he was released by Dallas.

The suspension begins immediately even though Randle is not on a roster. Randle was already away from the team to deal with personal issues when he was released by the Cowboys last Tuesday.

The NFL had investigated Randle’s arrest in February in his hometown of Wichita, Kansas, though police declined to pursue charges after a domestic disturbance complaint.

BROWNS: Coach Mike Pettine said quarterback Josh McCown, who remains sidelined with injured ribs, will start Sunday against Pittsburgh – as long as he’s physically able.

49ERS: San Francisco signed running back Travaris Cadet and released running back Pierre Thomas, who played sparingly in a win over Atlanta after signing early last week.

Cadet appeared in one game this season for New England before being released on Sept. 29.

JETS: The team signed former Texans kicker Randy Bullock to replace Nick Folk, who was placed on the season-ending injured reserve list. Folk injured his right quadriceps during pregame warmups Sunday.

BENGALS: First-round draft pick Cedric Ogbuehi was cleared to practice.

The Bengals took the offensive tackle with the 21st overall pick even though he was recovering after tearing an ACL in Texas A&M’s bowl game. They were content to let him rehabilitate and play next season, but Ogbuehi’s recovery went faster than expected.

BEARS: Offensive tackle Tayo Fabuluje was suspended four games for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.