Indianapolis Colts

Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich told reporters Monday that he hasn't spoken to Matt Ryan about the possibility of a trade before Tuesday's deadline.

Last week, Reich announced that the team planned to roll out Sam Ehlinger as the starting quarterback for the remainder of the season.

"We are going to make a significant change to the starting lineup," Reich told reporters last week. "We are going to elevate Sam to be the starting quarterback. Extremely difficult decision, obviously, given the respect and admiration we have for Matt Ryan and what he's done and what he's brought here. He's a pro's pro. This guy is special, special, special."

Ryan had been dealing with a Grade 2 shoulder separation and was already scheduled to be out for Sunday's 17-16 loss to the Washington Commanders. But Reich confirmed that the decision to move Ehlinger to the starting role wasn't a temporary one.

"Just feel like, at this point, that's the best decision for our team going forward," Reich said.

Because the Colts also have veteran Nick Foles on the roster as a capable backup if Ehlinger gets hurt, Ryan is expendable for the Colts and would make sense as a potential trade chip if an interested team comes calling.

Granted, Ryan's 2022 season hasn't gone to plan. The 37-year-old has been poor, throwing for 2,008 yards, nine touchdowns and nine interceptions in seven games, completing 68.4 percent of his passes. The team went 3-3-1 in his starts, but his turnover issues had become untenable.

"Our poor production on offense is not on one person—it's not on Matt Ryan—but we also know, as Matt and I talked it through, as head coach and quarterback," Reich told reporters last week. "As head coach, ultimately it doesn't matter, I'm judged on wins and losses. Quarterback's judged on points and production and turnovers. We understand that's how it is in this league."

Given his play, it's hard to imagine a vibrant market developing for his services, though teams in need of a veteran backup might have interest. For now, however, it appears as though he'll remain in Indianapolis.

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay recently said he believes there should be consideration given to removing Washington Commanders owner Daniel Snyder, and he's reportedly hoping to get more involved in the process along with other owners around the NFL.

According to Mark Maske and Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post, on Friday Irsay "called the owners the NFL’s stakeholders and said that they, in his view, must take control of the process, rather than allow it to be directed by Commissioner Roger Goodell or the league."

Snyder is under investigation by the NFL regarding sexual assault allegations that surfaced against him in February, and Irsay said he believes it's warranted to discuss the consequences that should face Snyder.

He told the Post:

"I’m not sure how that report’s going to come out. But what already has come out is extremely disturbing, and I disagree with the process. And I most likely disagree that we haven’t discussed something more severe such as him being removed as owner. As I said, it’s not something that I’m saying we should do. I’m saying it’s something that has to be given serious consideration."

The last time Snyder and his regime came under investigation, the NFL fined the Commanders $10 million for "fostering a workplace culture where sexual harassment, bullying and intimidation were commonplace," per Will Hobson, Maske, Liz Clarke, Beth Reinhard of the Washington Post. It also resulted in Tanya Snyder, his wife and the team's co-CEO, assuming control of the franchise's daily operations.

However, Irsay said he wasn't happy with the lack of input the other owners had in the NFL's punishment at the time.

"It’s not just what was handed down, the $10 million fine and this so-called suspension that I still don’t really understand, because I told Roger and spoke about it at our meeting, that: 'Look, I’ve been in the league 52 years. I wasn’t even asked about this, not consulted one time,'" Irsay said.

His comments echo his previous declaration on Oct. 18 that he believes "there is merit" to removing Snyder as Commanders owner. The NFL requires a vote from at least 24 out of 32 owners to agree to remove an owner, and Irsay said that number "potentially" has been reached already.

The timing of Irsay's most recent comments is interesting, considering the Colts will face the Commanders this week.

"It’s unfortunate that Mr. Irsay continues to behave in a way that clearly is in violation of the constitution of the NFL," a Commanders spokesperson said in a statement to the Washington Post. "We look forward to playing his team on Sunday."

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Matt Ryan spoke with reporters two days after the team revealed he would be benched in favor of Sam Ehlinger, noting that he was "disappointed" on a personal level but that he would "move forward" and would be "here for the team."

#Colts QB Matt Ryan on being benched:

“Individually, personally, disappointed. As a player, competitor, you want to be out there.” pic.twitter.com/oBv7yGgoWp

— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) October 26, 2022

Matt Ryan: “Part of the deal in this league is we gotta produce and you gotta go out there and play. Frustrated that we weren't able to do that. But, you know, you move forward in life, in this league. It’s week to week and the production has to be there.”

— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) October 26, 2022

Ryan also told reporters that he has no plans to request a trade.

Ryan is currently dealing with a Grade 2 shoulder sprain, per head coach Frank Reich to reporters. Nick Foles will be the team's backup quarterback Sunday against the Washington Commanders. Ehlinger previously jumped over Foles to QB2 on the depth chart earlier this year.

Despite the Ryan injury, though, Reich said that "right now the move is for Sam to be the starter for the rest of the season."

The Colts acquired Ryan via trade from the Atlanta Falcons during the offseason to replace outgoing starter Carson Wentz, who was dealt to the Washington Commanders.

The 2016 NFL MVP and four-time Pro Bowler enjoyed a great 14-year career in Atlanta, but the magic didn't translate to Indianapolis.

Correction: 19 fumbles, 5 lost. https://t.co/SNgugRXYNM

— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) October 26, 2022

For the season, Ryan completed 68.4 percent of his passes for 2,008 yards, nine touchdowns and a league-high nine interceptions.

Now it is the 24-year-old Ehlinger's turn to take the reins. The former Texas star notably dominated during the preseason as he completed 24-of-29 passes for 289 yards and four touchdowns (no interceptions). He rushed for 71 yards and a touchdown on six carries as well.

Kickoff is set for 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.

It's reportedly a "real possibility" Indianapolis Colts quarterback Matt Ryan has played his final NFL down after being benched in favor of Sam Ehlinger.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano reported Wednesday it's unlikely Ryan plays again for the Colts this season because an injury would put the team at risk of owing him an additional $17 million in 2023, and the $12 million he's already guaranteed next year could send him toward a "quasi-retirement."

Indianapolis acquired Ryan from the Atlanta Falcons, where he'd spent the first 14 years of his NFL career, in March with the hope he could reignite an offense that faded down the stretch in 2021.

Instead, the 37-year-old Boston College product struggled. He'd thrown nine touchdowns and nine interceptions while playing all seven games during the team's 3-3-1 start before suffering a shoulder injury in Sunday's loss to the Tennessee Titans.

While the injury was a factor in the Colts' quarterback change, Graziano noted there were already discussions behind the scenes, led by team owner Jim Irsay, about the possibility of switching to Ehlinger in the continued search for an offensive spark.

Now, with the various financial dynamics in play, it's possible Ryan's decorated career comes to a quiet end.

The Pennsylvania native was the ACC Player of the Year at B.C. in 2007 before getting selected by the Atlanta Falcons as the third overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft.

He earned 2008 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and peaked in 2016, when he was voted the league's Most Valuable Player after throwing for 4,944 yards and 38 touchdowns.

The quarterback's numbers have dipped over the past handful of seasons, however, and "scouts have lamented Ryan's physical deterioration for a few years now," per Fowler.

It'll take several weeks to determine whether the switch to Ehlinger will help the Colts' playoff chances, but head coach Frank Reich said at some point changes are needed.

"At some point as a head coach you have to make hard decisions," Reich told reporters Monday. "You have to work through these things, and they are not easy."

Indianapolis is back in action Sunday when it hosts the Washington Commanders at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Indianapolis Colts have most of the pieces in place to be a championship-caliber team, but their glaring lack of a franchise quarterback is holding them back from truly contending.

Ever since Andrew Luck shockingly retired following the 2018 campaign, the Colts have been trying shortcuts to unearth a viable replacement by bringing in well-worn veterans.

The team gave Jacoby Brissett an unsuccessful crack at starting in 2019 and even made the playoffs with Philip Rivers at the helm in 2020 before the Los Angeles Chargers legend hung up his cleats after a Wild Card Round loss.

The club was desperate in wake of that decision, eventually coughing up a 2021 third-round pick and a 2022 first-rounder for Carson Wentz after he lost his starting gig with the Philadelphia Eagles.

While 2021 wasn’t a complete disaster, Wentz’ inability to step up when the team needed him most ultimately cost the Colts a postseason berth. Indianapolis came up a game short despite boasting an offense led by rushing champion Jonathan Taylor and a tough defense that gave up only 21.5 points per game.

The Colts realized they weren’t much more than a fringe playoff contender at best with Wentz at the helm and jettisoned him to the Washington Commanders. While the organization recouped some draft capital for the struggling quarterback, it was once again left without a viable starter.

Rather than planning to use a Day 2 pick on a quarterback prospect like Malik Willis, the Colts instead opted to go back to the well and bring in another shaky veteran option.

Indianapolis negotiated a deal to bring Matt Ryan over from the Atlanta Falcons, giving up a third-round selection to get the 37-year-old in mid-March.

Considering the Falcons were willing to take a late Day 2 pick for the greatest quarterback in their franchise’s history—a player who had started for them for 14 consecutive years—there should have been some doubts about how much Ryan had left in the tank.

With the draft coming and going following the Ryan trade and Indianapolis once again punting on the opportunity to take a signal-caller early—its only quarterback selections since Luck announced his retirement have been Jacob Eason (No. 122 in 2020) and Sam Ehlinger (No. 218 in 2021)—it was obvious that the Colts were, once again, leaning on a declining veteran QB.

That decision, once again, has failed to pan out. Ryan has fared poorly for the Colts this season despite a semi-respectable 3-3-1 record heading into Week 8.

He has completed 68.3 percent of his passing attempts but is averaging just 6.8 yards per throw (his worst mark since 2010) and has nine touchdowns in seven starts. He has been responsible for a league-worst nine interceptions and has taken a concerning 24 sacks.

The Colts offense has gone from inconsistent under Wentz to a full-blown disaster with Ryan. The team managed to score 26.5 points per game last year—tying for the ninth-best mark in the league—but is mustering a meager 16.1 points per game in 2022, a mark only a pair of offensively challenged squads (the Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers) can’t top.

Things hit a new low on Sunday when the Colts sputtered to a 19-10 defeat against the rival Tennessee Titans, who took a clear lead in the AFC South with the victory. Ryan was abysmal in the contest, completing 33 of 44 passes for 243 yards and a score while throwing a pair of costly interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown.

The Colts did some soul-searching following the brutal defeat and ultimately decided to bench Ryan and forge ahead with Ehlinger as the new starter. While the move corresponded with a shoulder injury Ryan suffered in the contest, head coach Frank Reich made it clear that Ehlinger will remain the QB1 for the remainder of the campaign.

While Reich praised Ehlinger’s development—he was only recently promoted to the primary backup job, sending veteran Nick Foles down to the No. 3 spot—it will be surprising if Indy isn’t seeking a starter again come the offseason.

The Colts will have a few options to fill that void.

They could, once again, go back to the well and try to trade for a veteran who has fallen out of favor. It’s doubtful they’ll make that same mistake for a third straight year, but there’s a chance they go down that road given their recent history.

The team could dip into the free-agency pool, but the choices there are limited. Tom Brady is the gem of the 2023 class, but it’s far from guaranteed the future Hall of Famer will even play next year. It’s even less likely he would want to go to Indianapolis after the season Ryan has had.

The Colts could give Dallas Cowboys backup Cooper Rush a chance as a starter after his excellent month of filling in for an injured Dak Prescott. Those types of performances rarely translate to full-time success, though. For every Kirk Cousins-type success story, there’s a few Brock Osweilers or Matt Flynns getting paid and never performing at a high level again.

Considering only four quarterbacks—Peyton Manning, Jimmy Garoppolo, Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford—since the 2010 season have started a Super Bowl with a team that didn’t draft them, these free-agent moves rarely lead to success.

Perhaps the front office will stop trying to find a shortcut to sustained success and finally consider the draft as its most realistic option for getting a true franchise talent. If any team should understand the value of drafting the position, it's the Colts, as Manning and Luck are their last two first-round quarterbacks.

General manager Chris Ballard deserves much of the blame for ignoring the successful path his predecessors took to find quarterbacks. Since taking the reins ahead of the 2017 campaign, Ballard has overseen just one playoff win while churning through what will soon be nine starting quarterbacks when Ehlinger takes the field in Week 9.

That instability at the most crucial position is only hurting this franchise. Had Ballard worked on drafting a replacement to develop and lead the offense following Luck's retirement, he could have found someone special by now.

Even if Indy didn't wish to trade the farm to move up and get a top prospect over the last few years, a talent like Jalen Hurts was just sitting there waiting to be selected while Ballard passed on him twice during the second round of the 2020 draft.

As well regarded as Ehlinger is in some circles—the Colts made an uncharacteristic decision to retain three quarterbacks on the active roster this year as they likely believed he would have been claimed off waivers if he were sent to the practice squad—the second-year signal-caller out of Texas probably isn’t going to win many games.

The Colts are technically in the playoff hunt now, but they decided to take a path that will likely lead to a high draft pick in April.

The team will have a bevy of targets if it ends up with an early first-round pick.

Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud is the top-rated quarterback on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department’s big board this year, followed closely by Alabama’s Bryce Young and Kentucky’s Will Levis. All three could come off the board inside the top 10, a silver lining to what will likely be a down year in Indianapolis.

While the franchise can afford one poor season if it results in a prized quarterback prospect, the window for this roster to contend won’t stay open forever. These Colts are too talented on both sides of the ball to continue missing the playoffs and have to land their quarterback of the future in the draft to right the ship.

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay offered immense praise for starting quarterback Matt Ryan last week, going so far as to compare his leadership attributes to franchise legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning.

"I'll tell you, he is a steely-eyed missile man," Irsay told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport at the Fall League Meeting in New York.

"I've been around a lot of leaders, and I'd put him right up there with Peyton Manning. A really outstanding, tough guy who doesn't back down. Often the best in [the] fourth quarter, and you don't ever want to count out Matt Ryan. He's a winner, he's a fighter, and our team is taking on that temperament around him, which is exciting. More will be revealed, no question about it. But we're encouraged, we really are."

The Colts acquired Ryan, who spent the first 14 seasons of his career with the Atlanta Falcons, via trade in the offseason.

Ryan and the Colts offense struggled through the first five weeks of the season, with the 15-year veteran committing a league-high 10 turnovers (seven interceptions, three fumbles).

However, the Colts turned things around in Week 6 against the Jacksonville Jaguars thanks largely to the 2016 NFL MVP, who threw for 389 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-27 comeback win. He notably hit wide receiver Alec Pierce for a 32-yard game-winning touchdown with 17 seconds remaining in regulation.

Irsay's reported feelings on Ryan are a far cry from how the organization reportedly felt about his signal-calling predecessor, Carson Wentz.

Per Zak Keefer of The Athletic, Indianapolis was frustrated with his "lack of leadership, resistance to hard coaching and reckless style of play."

In addition, some within the organization were reportedly "finished" with Wentz even before the season ended with back-to-back losses and a 9-8 campaign that landed the Colts outside the playoffs.

That apparently isn't an issue with Ryan given Irsay's public comments. Despite the tough start, Indianapolis has gutted out a winning record of 3-2-1 to begin its 2022 campaign.

All three victories have occurred in comeback fashion. Ryan hit tight end Jelani Woods for a 12-yard touchdown pass with 24 seconds left to beat the Kansas City Chiefs 20-17. He also led the Colts on game-tying (and game-winning drives) in a 12-9 overtime victory over the Denver Broncos.

The Jags matchup serves as another example of Ryan's late-game abilities, which has helped give Indianapolis a winning record despite some injuries to star players this year (e.g. linebacker Shaquille Leonard, running back Jonathan Taylor).

Indianapolis now has a big matchup Sunday in a road game with the Tennessee Titans. The winner will take sole possession of first place in the AFC South through seven weeks.

The Indianapolis Colts will be without star running back Jonathan Taylor once again, as he is set to miss Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Colts officially ruled Taylor out as he continues to recover from an ankle injury.

Taylor was already forced to sit out Indianapolis' Week 5 matchup against the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football because of the injury he suffered in the team's loss to the Tennessee Titans.

The NFL's leading rusher in 2021, Taylor is the focal point of the Colts offense, but he's gotten off to a slow start this year. Through four games this season, he's recorded 328 yards and one touchdown on 81 carries. He also has nine receptions for 44 yards.

Taylor went three consecutive games without scoring a touchdown or rushing for 100 yards. He's averaging 4.0 yards per carry, down from 5.5 in 2021.

A second-round pick out of Wisconsin in 2020, Taylor didn't take long to establish himself as one of the best running backs in the league. After rushing for 1,169 yards and 11 touchdowns as a rookie, he followed it up with 1,811 yards and 18 touchdowns last season.

The Colts backfield is beaten up going into their second matchup with the Jaguars. Nyheim Hines is also unavailable due to a concussion. Second-year running back Deon Jackson and Phillip Lindsay will likely split carries, as they did in the Broncos game.

Indianapolis will be looking for revenge after being shutout, 24-0, by the Jaguars in Week 2. The Colts have won two of their last three games.

The Indianapolis Colts' backfield took a hit on Wednesday when running back Jonathan Taylor was ruled out for Thursday's game against the Denver Broncos because of an ankle injury.

That means the Colts and fantasy players alike will need to turn elsewhere, which could lead to big things for Nyheim Hines.

Still, fantasy players shouldn't expect him to come in and replicate Taylor's production. The Wisconsin product is arguably the top running back in the NFL and was an MVP candidate in 2021 with a league-best 1,811 rushing yards, 360 receiving yards and 20 total touchdowns.

Hines won't put up numbers like that, but he still brings a high short-term ceiling as an injury replacement.

The versatile back doesn't have a long track record of fantasy success, but he is a solid pass-catcher who tallied 63 receptions as a rookie in 2018, 44 receptions the next year, 63 catches in 2020 and 40 last season.

Hines should only see more targets with Taylor sidelined, which is welcome news for fantasy players in point-per-reception leagues. He was already garnering roster consideration because of that receiving ability and should also have more opportunities to run the ball at this point.

The 25-year-old has been boom-or-bust at times in his career, especially in 2020 when six of his seven touchdowns came in multi-touchdown showings. That inconsistency can lead to frustration for fantasy players who don't time their lineup decisions with his impressive showings, but a bigger role in the offense without Taylor should raise his floor.

As long as Taylor is out, Hines should at least be rostered for fantasy players everywhere.

Another name for fantasy managers to consider is Phillip Lindsay. After rushing for 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons with the Denver Broncos, Lindsay has spent the start of this season on the Colts' practice squad.

While it's not clear what Lindsay's role may be in Indianapolis, coach Frank Reich said earlier this week, per the Indy Star's Joel A. Erickson, that the veteran "will work into the equation."

Indianapolis Colts linebacker Shaquille Leonard suffered a broken nose, in addition to a concussion, in Sunday's loss to the Tennessee Titans, head coach Frank Reich told reporters Tuesday.

Leonard is still dealing with "significant" swelling to the area, and the extent of the damage is unclear.

"He's the heart and soul of who we are," Reich said. "I feel terrible for him. He worked so hard to get back. It means so much to him. The team success means so much to him. That's what I've come to appreciate."

The 27-year-old suffered the injuries on a collision with Zaire Franklin while tackling a Tennessee player during the second quarter. He played just 16 snaps, posting two tackles, before exiting.

It's a tough blow for Leonard, who had just returned to the Colts lineup against the Titans after missing the first three weeks of the season following recovery from back surgery in June.

Losing Leonard is also a tough beak for a Colts team that has struggled through the first four weeks of the season, posting a 1-2-1 record. However, the team's defense hasn't played that poorly, allowing 207.5 passing yards per game and 89.5 rushing yards per game.

Leonard has been a staple in the Colts defense since being selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft out of South Carolina State. He won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2018 and has earned a Pro Bowl selection in each of the last three seasons.

The South Carolina native is coming off an impressive 2021 season that saw him post four interceptions, eight pass breakups, eight forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and 122 tackles.

Before the 2021 campaign, Leonard signed a massive five-year, $98.5 million extension with the Colts that ties him to Indianapolis through the 2026 season.

It's unclear when Leonard might return to the Colts lineup. He has already been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Denver Broncos.