After holding the role of starting quarterback for 14 consecutive seasons in the NFL, Matt Ryan was benched by the Indianapolis Colts just seven games into his tenure with his new team.
It has to be quite the humbling experience considering no one truly expected things to get to this point. Coming into the season, no one would have expected Ryan would be benched for Sam Ehlinger if the Colts were .500 going into Week 8.
But that’s where we are. Ryan is no longer the starting quarterback as he also heals from a shoulder separation. But there’s no hatred. There’s no remorse or ill will from his side.
He’s handling this situation like a true professional.
“I mean, individually and personally disappointed. As a player, as a competitor, you want to be out there and want to go. It’s a part of the deal in this league – you’ve got to produce and you’ve got to go out there and play,” Ryan told the media Wednesday. “Frustrated that we weren’t able to do that in the first seven games, but you move forward. Life in this league is week-to-week and the production has to be there. Obviously disappointed personally, but here for the team.”
It’s never easy being benched and most players don’t take kindly to it. It’s not in the DNA of a professional athlete to look in the mirror and admit they aren’t good enough.
But that’s how Ryan has been playing. He leads the NFL with nine interceptions and 12 total turnovers. He has at least four games with multiple turnovers, and the Colts offense has scored over 20 points in a game just one time.
It doesn’t all fall on Ryan’s shoulders. The play of the offensive line has been absolutely brutal. But that combination of poor line play and having an older, immobile quarterback finally reached a breaking point against the Tennessee Titans in Week 7.
Head coach Frank Reich mentioned that he told Ryan the team didn’t hold up their end of the bargain when they traded for him this offseason. That’s not on Ryan’s mind.
“Listen, I know (in) this league you’ve got to go out there and win games. You’ve got to produce and you’ve got to play well,” Ryan said. “I don’t view it that way. Obviously, disappointed we haven’t played better. I thought we would. No, I don’t worry about that.”
Now, the Colts will be rolling with Ehlinger under center. He will make his first career start against the Washington Commanders in Week 8 with the hope of providing a spark for the offense.
And Ryan is giving all of his support to the young quarterback.
“I love Sam. He’s been awesome from the minute I got here. I just told him, ‘Any way I can help you let me know.’ As a player, you have to go out there and cut it loose and go play your game,” Ryan said. “It’s different – everybody’s individual game is different. So go play yours. He’ll do a good job for us.”
Ryan has always been the starter and the leader from the quarterback room. While he’s no longer the starter, this does give him another opportunity to show his leadership—albeit in a far more difficult circumstance.
But this benching won’t keep Ryan from doing what he can to help his team.
“It’s new. It’s not something that I’ve dealt with during my career. But I’ve been around a long time and seen that it happens,” Ryan said. “I’ve always preached that you’ve got to accept and embrace the role that they decide for you and try to be the best in that role that you can be and that’s what I’ll do.”
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