Over the next three weeks, the Indianapolis Colts will have crucial roster decisions to make before the list is cut down to 53 players. Some of those decisions reside in the quarterback room.
Though Philip Rivers and Jacoby Brissett have their roster spots locked up as the starter and backup, respectively, the Colts are going to face a decision as to whether they will keep an extra quarterback on the active roster.
Head coach Frank Reich told reporters this week that he and general manager Chris Ballard are weighing their options when it comes to the quarterback room.
“Chris (Ballard) and I talk about it all the time as we talk about the roster and how it’s going to be made up,” Reich said of keeping three quarterbacks. “That’s to be determined, but we’re talking about all options are open as we continue to progress forward and see where the roster is at that time. We’ll weigh the pros and cons of going with two or going with three.”
The reason this is really up for debate is that the Colts spent a fourth-round pick on Jacob Eason. Even amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Colts would likely lean with two quarterbacks on the active roster.
However, if the Colts wanted to get Eason on the practice squad, they’d have to subject him to waivers. Given his upside as a passer, the chances are he wouldn’t make it back to the Colts.
In regards to the protected practice squad—a new rule implemented for the 2020 season—it isn’t clear if those players would be subject to waivers as well. If they aren’t, then the process should be relatively straight forward. The Colts would keep Rivers and Brissett on the active roster while Eason goes on the protected practice squad where he can get his work in safe from other teams trying to poach him.
How many quarterbacks the Colts wind up keeping will have an impact on the rest of the roster, especially at positions with several players vying for the final one or two spots.
There are several developments to keep an eye on throughout camp. The quarterback position will be one to watch as the Colts try to determine how many they will keep on the active roster.