Sam Ehlinger takes major step in return to action for Colts

First-year quarterback Sam Ehlinger returned to practice on Wednesday after spraining his ACL in the Indianapolis Colts’ final preseason competition. 

Ehlinger was put on injured reserve following the knee injury, and the Colts now have three weeks to decide if they want to activate Ehlinger or keep him on IR for the remainder of the season.

The Colts are high on Ehlinger’s talent and what they saw in preseason camp after they drafted him in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. In his first preseason game in August, Ehlinger led the Colts to a 21-18 comeback win over the Carolina Panthers.

In four years at Texas, Ehlinger accumulated 11,436 passing yards, 94 touchdowns and 27 interceptions. Additionally, he rushed for 1,903 yards and 33 scores on the ground. Ehlinger is second in the Texas record books in both passing yardage and passing touchdowns behind Texas great Colt McCoy.

The Colts currently have three options at quarterback: Carson Wentz, Brett Hundley and Jacob Eason. Wentz sprained both of his ankles in Week 2 and played last week, but he was extremely limited.

“I knew I wasn’t going to scramble around and make some plays,” Wentz said Tuesday. “[The ankles] didn’t feel great when I did that, but at the same time, there’s plays to make.”

Colts head coach Frank Reich said Hundley will be the second-string quarterback on Sunday when the Colts head to Miami to face the Dolphins.

Colts seeking first win against struggling Dolphins

After an 11-5 season last year, the Colts are off to a rough start in 2021. After three weeks, the Colts are one of five winless teams. Their division, the AFC South, is the only division with two 0-3 teams. The Jacksonville Jaguars have yet to win a game either. 

The offense has struggled to get going, posting just 16 points in two of their three games thus far. On the defensive side of the ball, Indianapolis is allowing 140.3 yards per game on the ground, which is currently 28th in the NFL.

They face a 1-2 Dolphins team this weekend that has quarterback concerns of their own. With starter Tua Tagovailoa on IR for at least two more games, Jacoby Brissett has taken the reins. Miami is a two-point favorite in a game with an over/under of just 42.5 points due to both teams’ offensive tribulations.