Tag: Sam Ehlinger

What the emergency-QB rule means for the Colts

The NFL is bringing back the ’emergency QB’ rule, which should help the Colts.

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The Indianapolis Colts may not have to worry about making a roster decision regarding the need to carry three quarterbacks at all times on the 53-man roster after the league approved a rule to add an “emergency quarterback” on game days.

After the controversy from the 2022 NFC championship game between the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles — in which the 49ers lost both of their quarterbacks to injury — the league dusted off an old rule during the league meetings in Minneapolis this week.

The rule enables teams to dress a third quarterback without using an active roster spot on gameday. It was a league rule from 1991-2010 and now is back.

Here’s the official release from the league:

One hour and 30 minutes prior to kickoff, each club is required to establish its Active List for the game by notifying the Referee of the players on its Inactive List for that game. Each club may also designate one emergency third quarterback from its 53-player Active/Inactive List (i.e., elevated players are not eligible for designation) who will be eligible to be activated during the game, if the club’s first two quarterbacks on its game day Active List are not able to participate in the game due to injury or disqualification (activation cannot be a result of a head coach’s in-game decision to remove a player from the game due to performance or conduct). If either of the injured quarterbacks is cleared by the medical staff to return to play, the emergency third quarterback must be removed from the game and is not permitted to continue to play quarterback or any other position, but is eligible to return to the game to play quarterback if another emergency third quarterback situation arises.

A club is not eligible to use these procedures if it carries three quarterbacks on its game day Active List [47- or 48-players in 2023].

What does this mean for the Colts? It’s quite simple.

There was likely going to be a small debate as to whether the Colts should keep Sam Ehlinger on the active roster with rookie Anthony Richardson still developing. Gardner Minshew will serve as the bridge/backup option until Richardson is ready.

Now, the Colts can roll with the duo of Richardson and Minshew while Ehlinger can dress on Sundays as an emergency option without burning a gameday roster spot.

It’s a win-win.

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6 most intriguing position battles to watch at Colts’ OTAs

Taking a look at the most intriguing position battles as the Colts begin OTAs.

The offseason program for the Indianapolis Colts kicked off last month and continues with organized team activities (OTAs) this week.

These activities happen in three phases (May 23-25, May 31-June 2, and June 5-8) and will consist of in-person meetings and dedicated classroom teaching designed to help players improve during the offseason.

It’s also significant because it marks the first time the Colts can run drills between the offense and defense even though no pads or contact are permitted.

As the players reconvene, the evaluation process of the roster begins. It’s a critical time for a young team such as the Colts.

Here are the most intriguing position battles to watch at Colts’ OTAs:

Winners and losers from Colts’ 2023 draft

Here are the winners and losers from the Colts’ 2023 draft haul.

The Indianapolis Colts got through the biggest weekend of the offseason with 12 selections in the 2023 NFL draft—the most of Chris Ballard’s tenure.

The decisions made during draft weekend will have both direct and indirect impacts on the roster. Some players have extra competition to fight through in order to earn a role. Others didn’t see any competition added to their positions and may have easier paths to claiming a role in 2023.

And while we call some of these players “winners” and “losers,” the latter term is meant more in the outlook of their stock or the standing of their team.

But without further ado, here are the winners and losers from the Colts’ 2023 draft:

Re-grading the Colts’ 2021 draft class

Here’s a look at re-grading the Colts’ 2021 draft class.

Players are typically evaluated on how well they have adjusted to the NFL by the start of their third season. The same goes for the Indianapolis Colts.

By then, they hope to have matured in their play and become meaningful team additions while holding roles that have an impact in some phase of the game on Sundays.

The Colts drafted seven players in the 2021 draft who have now hit an evaluation period as they enter their third season. We’ll be taking a look at these seven picks and comparing their initial grades to where they stand now.

Here’s how we re-graded the 2021 draft class:

5 biggest takeaways from the Colts’ 2022 season

Here are five takeaways from the Colts’ 2022 season.

The 2022 season was supposed to be the one that the Indianapolis Colts finally ended their drought of not winning the AFC South with the potential of going on a deep playoff run.

But that wasn’t the case for the franchise. It ended up being the quite opposite of the expectations that the team had heading into the season.

They not only missed the playoffs, but they also couldn’t beat the Houston Texans and finished third in the division. They fired their head coach and offensive coordinator and benched the quarterback that was brought in to get them over the hump.

There were a lot more negatives about 2022 for the Colts than positives, here are my five takeaways from the past season for the organization:

Bears fans celebrated Sam Ehlinger’s ugly pick-six because of what it means for the NFL Draft

Everyone in Chicago was a BIG Texans fan on Sunday.

While Week 18 in the 2022 NFL season proved vital for a few playoff contenders and others trying to punch their ticket to the postseason dance, there was another vital matter to be settled — the team with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Should the Houston Texans defeat the Indianapolis Colts, while the Chicago Bears lose to the Minnesota Vikings, Chicago would secure the top pick in April’s draft. Obviously, with the supremely talented and promising Justin Fields already in the fold, this was a potentially exciting prospect for the Bears organization and their fans, given the massive trade-down possibilities.

And after the Colts’ Sam Ehlinger let off a brutal early pick-six to Houston DL Jonathan Greenard — while Nathan Peterman/Tim Boyle “did their job” for Chicago — Bears fans began to dream about a hopeful lucrative draft future:

Should scores hold — the Texans held a 10-point lead over the Colts at half, while the Bears were down 10 to the Vikings at the break — the Bears would be in the enviable spot of already having a gifted young QB but not having to draft one at No. 1 overall.

This is a final result that we may well remember for its essential long-term ramifications in the coming years.

Texans Wire Countdown to Colts: 10 factors to watch in Week 18

The Houston Texans finish up their 2022 season at the Indianapolis Colts. Here are 10 factors to keep an eye on throughout the game.

WHEN: 12:00 p.m. CT

WHERE: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Ind.

FORECAST: Snow showers, 36 degrees, 3 mph winds (indoors)

FOLLOW: @therealmarklane, @bigsargesportz, @johnhcrumpler @thetexanswire

LISTEN: Sports Radio 610 [KILT-AM] and 100.3 The Bull [KLOL]

WATCH: CBS (Spero Dedes & Jay Feely)

RED — New England at Buffalo

BLUE — Baltimore at Cincinnati

GREEN — Cleveland at Pittsburgh

YELLOW — Houston at Indianapolis

Source: 506 Sports

Colts vs. Texans: Keys to victory in Week 18

Here are the keys to victory for the Colts as they host the Texans in Week 18.

Well…here we are. The finale to one of the most disappointing Indianapolis Colts seasons of the past few years.

This team had lots of promise in training camp but, needless to say, has not lived up to the hype. With a revolving door at quarterback, major offense line concerns, and a coaching change on the horizon, it will be an eventful offseason in Indianapolis.

The Colts can end this season on a high note as they host the Texans on Sunday.

Houston is just one loss away from locking up the No. 1 draft pick in April. The Colts can lock up a top-five pick—or even higher—with a loss.

Jeff Saturday, however, will want to show he has what it takes to lead this squad in the future and potentially get another shot at coaching, improbable as it should seem.

Here are the keys to victory for the Colts on Sunday against the Texans:

Former Texas QB Sam Ehlinger to start Colts’ season finale vs. Texans

Sam Ehlinger will get his third start of the season.

Former Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger will start in place of the injured Nick Foles for the Indianapolis Colts’ regular-season finale against the Houston Texans this week. Continue reading “Former Texas QB Sam Ehlinger to start Colts’ season finale vs. Texans”

Colts’ Sam Ehlinger to start vs. Texans in finale

Sam Ehlinger will get the start against the Texans in the finale.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Sam Ehlinger will be the starter in place of the injured Nick Foles (ribs) for the regular-season finale against the Houston Texans.

Foles is recovering from a ribs injury he suffered during the 38-10 loss against the New York Giants on Sunday when he was sacked by rookie Kayvon Thibodeaux in the second quarter.

Foles landed on the ball and was clearly in pain, writhing on the ground. Ehlinger finished the game and will start in Week 18 while Matt Ryan will be active as the backup, according to interim head coach Jeff Saturday.

Saturday also mentioned the celebration by Thibodeaux, which was a major topic of discussion. Thibodeaux’s celebration went on far too long while laying directly next to Foles, who was writhing in pain.

Saturday took issue with the celebration but also with the fact that none of the Colts’ offensive linemen did anything to confront the rookie as it was happening.

Regardless, the Colts will be preparing for the end of a long season that has been a disaster, to say the least.

Ehlinger will get another chance to prove he’s worthy of development down the road while most fans are likely hoping for a loss to secure a top-five pick in the 2023 NFL draft.

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