Colts owner Jim Irsay attends training camp

INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay attended training camp practice Sunday, his first public appearance since December.

Irsay spoke to reporters for over 10 minutes during training and said he is still recovering from major surgery on his lower body, which has left him unable to walk.

In early January, the Colts released a statement saying that Irsay was being treated for a serious respiratory illness. A week later, a police report surfaced stating that Irsay was found unresponsive in his home on December 8 from what authorities described as a suspected drug overdose. According to the police report, Irsay was given a dose of Narcan, a medication used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, before paramedics transported him to a hospital.

Irsay, who has spoken about his history of addiction, mainly to painkillers, has never admitted to an overdose.

In a phone interview with ESPN in April, Irsay said, “I’ve had a few episodes in the past. It’s normal for people to get carried away and exaggerate.”

The longtime owner has dealt with numerous health issues in recent years, undergoing multiple surgeries to address years-old powerlifting injuries in his shoulders and hips. Those procedures have severely impacted Irsay’s mobility, often leaving him dependent on a cane.

Irsay, 65, said he still plans to attend next weekend’s Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony, where he will introduce former Colts great Dwight Freeney. He will likely need a wheelchair to get around Canton.

“It’s frustrating because my left leg doesn’t have the push off that I need it to have,” he said. “I can stand and stuff like that, but as far as walking and stuff like that, it’s hard to say exactly how far away I am from that. But it’s not far. God knows I’ve been working hard to get myself back.”