While Jacoby Brissett was asked to start in 2017 and 2019, he gave the Colts a high-end backup quarterback during their most recent two playoff seasons. But Brissett’s four-year Indianapolis tenure is done; he is now in Miami.
Currently stationed as QB2 options for the Colts: 2020 fourth-round pick Jacob Eason and sixth-round rookie Sam Ehlinger. Former Prairie View A&M passer Jalen Morton is also on the roster. Frank Reich said Eason, after his developmental rookie year, is currently penciled in as the Colts’ backup. That appears to be the team’s goal for the season.
Chris Ballard indicated discussions of backstopping Wentz with a more experienced passer have taken place. But the Colts want to go with one of their young QBs in this role.
“That’s a great question. It’s one we’ve definitely thought about,” Ballard said of adding a veteran backup, via Fox 59’s Mike Chappell. “Let’s get through the preseason. Let’s see where we are. We want one of these young guys to be the guy. We think they can. We’ll keep working through that.”
Carson Wentz has run into a few notable injury issues during his career. After missing time during his senior season at North Dakota State, Wentz tore multiple knee ligaments to end his 2017 MVP bid. A back injury then ended Wentz’s 2018 season. He suffered a concussion in the Eagles’ 2019 wild-card loss to the Seahawks. It would certainly make sense for the Colts to add here, but for now, Eason — Georgia’s 2016 starter and Washington’s QB1 in 2019 — is the guy.
The free agent market houses a few notable names. Journeyman Brian Hoyer, whom the Colts used as Brissett’s backup in 2019, is available. So are Robert Griffin III, Brett Hundley and Sean Mannion, multiyear backups in Baltimore, Arizona and Minnesota, respectively. Nick Mullens played more than each during his backup stay in San Francisco, but he is recovering from elbow surgery.
McCown is still available
roethlisberger’s turn next year?
Oddly enough I actually really love Jacob Eason. I watched him a lot in college and I think as long as he is put in the right situation, he could end up being at least serviceable as an NFL QB if not more
I do too. I think he got screwed by Georgia who wasted his talent (just like they went on to make the wrong choice with Fromm over Fields). Give Eason another year or two and I think he could start for a team.
“Colts leaning towards signing a backup QB”
Jacob Eason: Am I a joke to you?
Man we need this in a meme format.
Trying to appease Wentz?
I doubt that would be necessary as Wentz is probably quite happy to now be with a team that has an above average OL.
Really? He was behind a very good o-line that was ranked #1 multiple times in his time in Philly. Even this past year of the dumpster fire when everything went wrong they were a middle of the pack unit.
Bold move Cotton
If Wentz can stay healthy it looks good for that conditional 2nd Round pick becoming a 1st rounder for the Eagles
So you’re saying the conditional pick based on him staying healthy and playing is hinging on “if Wentz can stay healthy”?
The Colts O-Line is one injury away from being a train wreck….
The Colts have a little more leeway than most teams due to their effective staff and good organizational culture right now, but I would like to see them either get a backup with at least some game experience or go out of their way to get Eason and/or Ehlinger some live game reps this year. Wentz I think will have a rebound season, but he is an injury concern unfortunately and it’d be good for Indy to have a player with some live experience ready to go. Reich and his staff will make a transition easier than most coaching staffs, but a little experience on behalf of the QB would be ideal to ensure that the gameplan can be adequately executed.
As the colts, would purposely pull Wentz in games where they had a commanding lead or definitive loss. Conserve that 1st.