The offseason mistakes that led to the Colts 2022 downfall

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - AUGUST 17: Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay on the field before the preseason game against the Cleveland Browns at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 17, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - AUGUST 17: Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay on the field before the preseason game against the Cleveland Browns at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 17, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
3 of 3
Colts, Matt Ryan
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Matt Ryan (2) leaves the field after losing to the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn.Nfl Indianapolis Colts At Tennessee Titans

Colts continued the quarterback carousel

If you didn’t see this one coming, it might be time for you to make a doctor’s appointment. Matt Ryan is bad. Matt Ryan is old. Matt Ryan is no longer playing like a starting NFL Quarterback.

Now, this isn’t going to turn into a Carson Wentz what-if scenario, even though, you could make the case that even Wentz wasn’t as awful as Ryan, but it probably should. Wentz wasn’t this bad. Jacoby Brissett wasn’t this bad. Nevertheless, trading for Matt Ryan was obviously the biggest mistake the Indianapolis Colts made in the 2022 off-season.

Through 13 weeks, 11 games for Ryan, he has completed 290-of-428 passes for a 67.8 completion percentage and 2,875 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.

Thankfully, it’s the Colts’ bye week, or Matt Ryan could be adding to his turnover total for the season. Even though he was benched for two games, Matty Ice still leads the NFL in interceptions with 13. He’s also fumbled a total of 14 times, five of those resulting in turnovers.

Prior to the year, it seemed the safe play to trade for a quarterback that’s in the top 10 all-time passing, now the safe play is to keep him off the field. The Atlanta Falcons made an absolute robbery of the Colts in this trade that not only cost Indy a third-round draft pick, but a head coaching change, another missed opportunity for a playoff run, and of course millions of dollars tied up into a guy you absolutely cannot build around.

Maybe ownership’s pride put the Colts in this position, maybe the stars couldn’t align. Whatever the case, the ever-longing carousel at the quarterback position has to come to an end in 2023.

Schedule