The Indianapolis Colts are likely going to carry two quarterbacks on the active roster throughout the regular season, but Sam Ehlinger is making them reconsider that notion.
The second-year passer spent the offseason working on his mechanics and improving his velocity. That training has certainly paid off through the first two games of the preseason as Ehlinger has been nearly unstoppable.
After a strong performance in the preseason opener against the Buffalo Bills, Ehlinger continued his red-hot preseason with an even better game against the Detroit Lions on Saturday.
The Texas product completed 9-of-11 passes for 136 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions and a 157.8 passer rating.
Through the first two preseason games, Ehlinger has completed 19-of-22 passes (86.4%) for 224 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. He’s also added five carries for 26 rushing yards.
“Sam’s been great. He came up big today on a couple of big plays, had one or two early mistakes but that’s what he does. He overcame a mistake and then next drive came out and you know made plays,” head coach Frank Reich said after Saturday’s game.
That offseason training Ehlinger went through to improve his velocity showed up Saturday when he had a chance to make a big play. After a coverage breakdown by the Lions, wide receiver Dezmon Patmon was wide open deep down the field.
Ehlinger, rolling to his left, uncorked a throw on the run that surprised just about everyone watching the game. The ball traveled roughly 45 yards in the air while Patmon scrambled for the final five yards to score a 50-yard touchdown.
It’s a throw that Reich may not have believed Ehlinger would make last season.
“I’m not sure. I’m not sure. I think that’s a great question, maybe so. I know this. The guy has worked as hard as anybody on our roster in the offseason, in training camp. He is a relentless worker. He is so determined to get better in every aspect of his game,” Reich said. “I’ve mentioned to you guys a couple of times during camp, I think his arm not only looks stronger, I think he’s throwing the ball more accurately than he was last year. Not that it was bad last year, I just think he’s had a really good training camp.”
With Matt Ryan and Nick Foles on the roster, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense for the Colts to carry three quarterbacks. They may have to risk putting Ehlinger on the practice squad, which means running him through waivers.
But one thing is for certain, Ehlinger looks like a much different quarterback than the one that was drafted in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL draft.
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