Colts sign Brian Hoyer to be backup QB

The Colts signed a veteran quarterback to be the backup, which was expected. What wasn’t expected is the kind of money that the team gave that backup.

Jacoby Brissett needs a backup. Now that Andrew Luck is gone, he is the franchise quarterback. He needs some protection behind him. Many fans want Chad Kelly to be the backup once his suspension is finished. That won’t be the case anymore.

The Colts decided to sign Brian Hoyer to be the backup. They signed him to a 3 year deal worth $12 million with $9 million guaranteed according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. With that kind of money being paid to him, Hoyer will be the backup for the long haul.

Having Hoyer signed for three years gives the Colts a level of stability at the quarterback position. Hoyer is a veteran who has played in the league for awhile and has even started games. He’s a backup for a reason, though he should give the team some peace of mind knowing they have someone who has played meaningful games behind Brissett.

This probably marks the end of the road for Chad Kelly. Phillip Walker is already on the practice squad, and the Colts are extremely familiar with him in that role. This could change though, as the Colts could release Walker from the practice squad and sign Kelly instead.

This has to be a little bit of a gut punch for Kelly though. He played so well during the preseason and really thought he had earned the backup job. Ultimately, the two-game suspension was just too much to overcome because the team needs a backup now.

Now that Hoyer is signed, the quarterback situation should finally be settled for the year to come. Hopefully Hoyer isn’t needed this year though.