Following Sunday’s loss to the Tennessee Titans, the Indianapolis Colts announced their plan to start Sam Ehlinger for the rest of the year.
This offseason, the Indianapolis Colts traded for veteran quarterback Matt Ryan and the move was met with a lot of excitement and high expectations. However, the reality wasn’t as exciting for Indy as they stumbled out to a 3-3-1 start while Ryan led the NFL in fumbles and interceptions. Now, Ryan will be sidelined for the foreseeable future as Indianapolis turns to second-year quarterback Sam Ehlinger.
Ehlinger was selected by Indianapolis in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft and spent his rookie season as the No. 2 quarterback for the Colts behind Carson Wentz last season. Entering this year, many assumed Ehlinger wouldn’t even make the roster after Indianapolis signed Nick Foles in free agency. However, Ehliger had a preseason that made it impossible for the Colts to cut him so they kept him on as QB3.
Recently, Ehlinger was elevated to QB2, jumping Foles on the depth chart, and now, the plan is for him to be the starting quarterback for Indianapolis for the rest of the season as long as he remains healthy. This is an opportunity for Ehlinger to prove that he is the quarterback of the future for the franchise.
To clarify: the Colts are making the switch at QB regardless of Matt Ryan's injury. The plan, as of now, is for Sam Ehlinger to be the starting quarterback the rest of the season.
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) October 24, 2022
Colts bench Matt Ryan for Sam Ehlinger
With the announcement of Ehlinger starting, Indianapolis also announced that Matt Ryan has a Grade 2 shoulder separation, however, it was made clear that the change at quarterback would’ve been made regardless of Ryan’s injury. As opposed to waiting until the end of the season to make a change, Indianapolis decided to shake things up now.
That means if Ryan never takes another snap at quarterback for the Colts, his tenure in Indy will end with 203-of-297 passes completed for 2,008 yards, nine touchdowns, and nine interceptions in seven games played. Additionally, Ryan was sacked 24 times and fumbled the ball 11 times.
Coincidentally, this quarterback change is happening as Indianapolis prepares to host the Washington Commanders, the team Indy traded Carson Wentz to. This game was supposed to be about Wentz returning to Indianapolis to battle the franchise that moved on from him, and his replacement. Unfortunately, Wentz is sidelined with a fractured finger and Matt Ryan will also be a spectator for the game as everyone watches the Sam Ehlinger era begin for the Colts.
One big reason why the Colts should just tank
The Indianapolis Colts are just 3-3-1 but there is a notable difference between Indy and the rest of the contending teams in the NFL.