Clint Lamb
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Carson Wentz was supposed to be the savior in Indianapolis. And who knows, maybe he still can be. It all depends on how long it takes him and starting guard Quenton Nelson to get back from those foot injuries.
In the meantime, the Colts must now figure out a literal backup plan in case Wentz isn’t ready for their opening regular season game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 9. Some assumed the team would seek a trade, keying in on targets such as Nick Foles, Marcus Mariota or Gardner Minshew.
Then news broke that trading for yet another quarterback isn’t currently in the plans. With Jacob Eason, Brett Hundley and rookie sixth-round pick Sam Ehlinger all on the roster, letting those guys battle it out is Plan A — and there isn’t a Plan B.
Though some initially had hope for Eason, he doesn’t look like he’s going to be the answer. He’s got the size (6-foot-6, 231 lbs) and the raw arm strength, but he’s been way too inconsistent in practice to earn the coaching staff’s trust. Maybe that will change, but for now, the Colts are exploring other internal options.
That’s why the rookie Ehlinger got a crack at some first-team reps to close practice on Monday.
Colts closed out today’s practice with rookie sixth-round pick Sam Ehlinger working as Indy’s starting QB. Today was the first day of camp in which Ehlinger took some reps with the Colts’ starters.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 10, 2021
Over his last three seasons at Texas, Ehlinger threw for 9,521 yards, 83 touchdowns and only 20 interceptions. He also added another 1,522 yards and 31 scores on the ground, making him a decent dual-threat option.
The NFL is a different beast, however, and some question whether his skill set will transition well. But at least he’s getting the opportunity to show what he can do, and even if he doesn’t start, he can still prove his worth to the team.
And who knows what can happen.
Follow Clint Lamb on Twitter @ClintRLamb.
