Report: Sam Ehlinger to become Indianapolis Colts' new backup quarterback

Matt Ryan will have a new backup quarterback this week. Sam Ehlinger is now the Indianapolis Colts’ QB2, according to a report.

FOX 59’s Mike Chappell reported Nick Foles will be inactive for Sunday’s game between the Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars and Ehlinger will become the backup. Indianapolis’ offense has struggled mightily to start the year, and Foles was serving as the backup after signing a two-year contract in May.

But with Ryan and the offense struggling, Ehlinger — the second-year quarterback out of Texas — could be asked to come in and provide a spark.

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As a rookie last season, Ehlinger appeared in three games for the Colts and rushed the ball three times. He hasn’t thrown an NFL pass.

Indianapolis drafted Ehlinger in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft after his career at Texas, which ended with a second team All-Big 12 selection and an Alamo Bowl victory in 2020. During his time in Austin, Ehlinger threw for 11,436 yards and 94 touchdowns over four seasons.

The Colts are off to a rough start to the 2022 season, bringing a 2-2-1 record into the matchup with Jacksonville. They also got some promising news on the injury report as star running back Jonathan Taylor, one week after missing the game against the Denver Broncos, is considered questionable.

Ryan is in his first year as the Colts’ starting quarterback after coming over from the Atlanta Falcons and is off to a sluggish start to his time in Indianapolis. He has completed 65.6% of his passes for 1,376 yards, five touchdowns and seven interceptions through five games. He, along with the rest of the offense, will try to right the ship against the Jaguars Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on CBS.