The Indianapolis Colts have done extremely well to overcome the barrage of adversity they were dealt at the start of training camp.
In a matter of days, Frank Reich tested positive for COVID-19, news broke that Darius Leonard had undergone a minor ankle procedure late in the offseason, and Carson Wentz and Quenton Nelson underwent foot surgery 24 hours apart and were given a 5-to-12-week recovery timetable.
Luckily for the Colts, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. Leonard is back at practice after becoming the highest-paid linebacker in NFL history. Wentz is making cameos and showing very few ill-effects from his procedure. And Reich is locked in; alongside GM Chris Ballard, he inked an extension with Indy through the 2026 season.
Reich and Ballard being locked up for the long haul is huge news for the organization. Both are rising stars at their respective positions and deserve the security of a long-term deal.
Perhaps more important, though, is that it means Wentz faces less pressure to perform in 2021.
BREAKING: The @Colts have signed GM Chris Ballard and head coach Frank Reich each to contract extensions through the 2026 season, per sources.
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) August 11, 2021
Colts owner @JimIrsay clearly in a happy place with his leaders.
Ballard was hired as GM in 2017. Reich was hired as HC in 2018.
Frank Reich and Chris Ballard signing extensions is big for Colts QB Carson Wentz.
The Colts made a huge roll of the dice by trading for Wentz this offseason after he was arguably the worst quarterback in the NFL a season ago. For context, he ranked 34th in completion percentage (57.4%) and passer rating (72.8), and tied for the most interceptions thrown (15).
Though Wentz was an MVP candidate in Philly with Reich as his offensive coordinator, his performance last year made folks question whether the 28-year-old signal caller could rekindle that magic. While that’s still open for interpretation, Reich and Ballard being under contract through 2026 means Wentz doesn’t have to figure it all out this season.
For the sake of argument, let’s say those deals didn’t materialize. Wentz would’ve been tasked with having to redeem himself, which is taxing to begin with, but he also would’ve had his new head coach’s and (maybe) general manager’s job riding on him proving himself right away.
By signing Reich and Ballard to multi-year extensions, however, the Colts confirmed that one of two things will happen: either Wentz will flourish within this QB-friendly infrastructure, or the infrastructure will outlast him if he doesn’t prove to be the answer under center.
Cornerstones cemented. ☑️
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) August 11, 2021
There’s just a laundry list of what ifs that were nipped in the bud with this news. While Reich probably had more say in the decision to trade for Wentz than Ballard, who’s to say owner Jim Irsay wouldn’t have pulled the plug on both of them if Wentz didn’t pan out?
We don’t have to worry about that anymore.
With these new contracts in place, Wentz, though he’s still faced with pressure, can perform without thinking that he could be responsible for his coach and general manager, who saved him from the Eagles’ dysfunction, losing their jobs if he doesn’t live up to expectations.
That’s a huge win for the entire organization.
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