The Indianapolis Colts made a big change to the quarterback room by bringing in veteran Philip Rivers this offseason, but those who make up the depth in the room got some praise from Pro Football Focus.
The backup quarterbacks in the room consist of 2019 starter Jacoby Brissett, Chad Kelly and 2020 fourth-round pick Jacob Eason. PFF ranked this group as the second-best unit in the NFL, behind only the New Orleans Saints.
The Colts went 11-19 in 30 games with Brissett under center during the 2017 and 2019 seasons. He deserves some slack due to the reality that he was thrust into action on both occasions without the benefit of an offseason as the offense’s defined starter. A plenty respectable career 31-13 TD-INT ratio and ability to create off-script goodness overshadows more mediocre numbers in adjusted yards per attempt (6.8) and completion rate (59.8%). Overall, Brissett ranks 38th among 48 QBs in PFF passing grade since 2017.
The artist known as Swag Kelly has largely balled out in the preseason during the better part of the last three years; his average of 7.9 yards per attempt is the sixth-highest mark among 49 qualified QBs. Of course, we’ve never seen the self-proclaimed second-fastest QB in the league operate during the regular season, but there’s clearly some raw talent here that could produce a wider range of outcomes (both positive and negative) than most backups.
The Colts drafted Eason in the fourth round of the 2020 draft. He could very well take Kelly’s roster spot. I would be mad online if this happens.
The Colts’ league-best offensive line makes this situation more than manageable for any of the team’s trio of talented backups to handle.
The Colts are hoping they won’t have to dig into their backups during the 2020 season and can just follow Rivers to a potential playoff spot, but there is a bit of security knowing who can step in—even after the disappointing 2019 campaign from Brissett.
With Rivers and Brissett locked into their spots, the battle between Kelly and Eason will be one to watch during training camp.