The Colts released QB Chad Kelly on Wednesday and we have zero idea why it took this long.
There’s a ton of ambiguity surrounding the Indianapolis Colts’ quarterback situation beyond the current season, as the likes of Philip Rivers and Jacoby Brissett, the two top guys on the depth chart, are both slated to become free agents.
With no real long term answers available this past offseason, the former was mostly signed as a bridge option who might be able to lead the Colts to a deep playoff run. The latter, meanwhile, performed well as the starter in 2019, but he simply isn’t good enough to help this team reach its admittedly high ceiling.
2020 fourth-round pick Jacob Eason has seemingly done nothing but impress since the start of training camp, but it remains to be seen if he’s ready to call the shots of an NFL team, let alone one with perennial playoff aspirations.
Whatever the case, following their latest transaction, the Colts could actually head into next offseason with just one quarterback on the active roster. On Wednesday, they announced the release of Chad Kelly from the practice squad, and all things considered (yes, all things!), we seriously don’t know why it took this long.
We have signed WR Krishawn Hogan to the practice squad and released QB Chad Kelly from the practice squad.
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) September 30, 2020
At one point in time, Kelly was considered one of the top quarterback prospects in college football, but he was kicked off the Clemson team back in 2013 for what was ultimately described as “conduct detrimental to the team” after snapping at the coaching staff.
Kelly went on to enroll at Ole Miss with two years of eligibility, but his senior season was derailed by a torn ACL and lateral meniscus. The Broncos eventually made him the final pick of the 2017 Draft, but swiftly released him the following year after he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor second-degree criminal trespassing.
Ironically enough, Andrew Luck’s abrupt retirement last preseason gave Kelly a lifeline, as the Colts were literally forced into signing a quarterback. Much like his collegiate and pro career, however, the former seventh-round pick found himself in legal trouble. He was handed a two-game suspension at the start of the 2019 campaign for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
#Colts released QB Chad Kelly from their practice squad.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 30, 2020
Kelly has since spent his time bouncing around the Colts practice squad.
Not only were there questions about his overall prospects as an NFL quarterback, but Kelly never seemed to get out of his own way and really only has himself to blame for how his career, or lack thereof, has panned out.
We’re dumbfounded as to why the Colts kept him around for as long as they did, because he never had a shot at sniffing the field. This move was long overdue.
The longer you pretend Swag Kelly might be your future, the more likely you actually get tricked into it.
Colts: Indy possibly getting reinforcements at right time after slew of injuries to stars
The Indianapolis Colts could possibly be getting reinforcements for Week 4 after a slew of injuries to their star players.