The Indianapolis Colts will have a roster decision to make when it comes to backup quarterback Brett Hundley ahead of the Week 5 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens.
Per NFL rules, a practice squad player can only be elevated to the active roster for game day twice in a season. If the Colts want Hundley, who remains on the practice squad, to be the backup quarterback for the Week 5 game, they will have to sign him to the active roster.
According to Article 33, Section 5 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, once a player is elevated twice during the regular season, the team must sign him to an active NFL contract in order for him to play on gameday.
(f) A Practice Squad player may be elevated to a Club’s Active/Inactive List for a maximum combination of two regular season or postseason games in the same League Year. After a Club has elevated a player to its Active/Inactive List for a maximum combination of two games during the regular season or postseason, any subsequent elevation of the player must be an activation to the Club’s 53-player Active/Inactive List.
The only way Hundley can be elevated but remain on the practice squad is if he’s a COVID-19 replacement. The Colts don’t currently have any positive tests or close contacts, but that’s one way Hundley could be brought up for the game without having to sign him to the active roster.
Despite Jacob Eason being on the active roster, the Colts have made it clear they don’t want him to be the backup because he lacks experience in the league. Getting Eason experience in the game is the only way to truly fix that issue, but the Colts are going this route regardless.
It will also be interesting to see how the return of Sam Ehlinger impacts this decision. If the Colts feel more comfortable with Ehlinger as the backup, they may not have to deal with this decision. However, Ehlinger is still on the injured reserve list and is expected to be activated either this week or next week.
The Colts have dealt with injuries at the quarterback position all season since they arrived for training camp when it come to Carson Wentz. His pair of ankle sprains are getting better, but his injury history shows the Colts must have a plan of action in place.
If that plan of action involves Hundley being available on game days, they are going to have to elevate him to the active roster for good.
[lawrence-related id=63069,63067,63065]
[listicle id=62879]