Matt Ryan, Nick Foles bring QB stability Indianapolis Colts have desired for years

INDIANAPOLIS – Issues certain have modified within the Indianapolis Colts’ quarterback room over the previous 12 months.

The questions at quarterback have been flowing like a river downstream after they acquired Carson Wentz from the Philadelphia Eagles final offseason.

Can Wentz keep wholesome?

Can Wentz recover from the psychological hurdle of being benched in his last season with Philadelphia?

Why are the Colts going with unproven backup Jacob Eason — a 2020 fourth-rounder who had by no means taken a professional snap — as an alternative of buying a veteran behind Wentz?

Now, in 2022?

The Colts have a brand new starter in Matt Ryan — acquired from the Atlanta Falcons in March — who has missed solely three out of a 225 video games in his 14-year NFL profession and was the league MVP in 2016.

And the backup quarterback?

The Colts aren’t taking part in this time round. They signed veteran – and acquainted face to teach Frank Reich – Nick Foles to again up Ryan.

“What [general manager] Chris [Ballard] and I stated was in an ideal world, you get a confirmed backup, but when it doesn’t occur, we’re not going to chase it,” Reich stated. “We’re not going to overpay. We’re not going to do one thing loopy that might harm the crew long-term.

“I wished Nick since I’ve been right here to be on this crew as a result of I feel he’s that good of a participant. I feel he’s the right backup quarterback. It actually fell into our lap. We didn’t chase it. If it wouldn’t have labored out, we might have been proud of Sam [Ehlinger], however we’re actually pleased we obtained Nick.”

Having stability at quarterback is one much less concern for the Colts, who’ve respectable expectations to win the AFC South this season.

Final season, there have been occasions they’d extra to fret about at quarterback than Wentz’s inconsistency. Wentz missed an prolonged time period in coaching camp with a left foot damage that required surgical procedure. Then he sprained his left ankle in a Week 2 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

And you’ll’t overlook concerning the unvaccinated Wentz getting COVID-19 late within the season when the Colts have been within the playoff hunt. Though he performed in Week 17, he did not apply all week, and the Colts misplaced 23-20 to the Arizona Cardinals.

It obtained to the purpose that Reich even put in a name to former starter Philip Rivers to see if he had any curiosity in popping out of retirement to play for them.

Foles, if pressed into taking part in time, is accustomed to Reich’s offense after they, and Wentz, have been collectively in Philadelphia, the place Reich was the offensive coordinator. After Wentz suffered a torn left ACL late within the 2017 season, Foles stepped in and led the Eagles to a Tremendous Bowl victory over the New England Patriots. Foles was on the receiving finish of tight finish Trey Burton’s landing go on the legendary ‘Philly Particular’ trick play in that recreation.

“You’ve obtained a man in Nick Foles who has confirmed that he can do it on the largest degree and the largest stage, in any form of climate, in any form of second,” Reich stated. “I like to think about it that typically there are backups that may are available in and handle a recreation and squeak out a win or two, and there are some that may throw for 500 yards and win a recreation. That’s what Nick has confirmed he can do. He can win a shootout. He can win the shootout, and he can win an in depth recreation, make the important thing performs in an in depth recreation.”

Foles hasn’t been as efficient since Reich left the Eagles to turn into the Colts’ coach after that Tremendous Bowl. He’s a mixed 7-10 as a starter in his last season with the Eagles (2018) and stops with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears. The Bears launched Foles earlier this offseason, which prompted him to actually assume arduous about the place his subsequent cease was going to be. He had no real interest in simply leaping ship to his sixth completely different crew throughout his NFL profession, which began in 2012.

“I used to be going to be choosy and be good about it as a result of I’ve two little youngsters and one on the way in which, and I’m not going to maneuver my household simply to go to work,” Foles advised reporters this week. “Like, I need to benefit from the grind.”

Foles is aware of his position in Indianapolis: again up Ryan, assist present perception within the quarterback room and step in and play if wanted.

It’s not a posh scenario.

“That is Matt’s crew,” Foles stated. “He’s the chief, and he’s working the ship. … I feel any time you could have a QB room like this, you’re excited to go to work day by day. You’re excited to work alongside an MVP.”

The Colts’ mantra has all the time been that it’s not simply concerning the quarterback, however they’ve realized that it’s arduous to win once they don’t have stability and belief in that place.

They’ve it now in Ryan and Foles.