Why has Matt Ryan been benched? Looking at Colts’ decision to start Sam Ehlinger
It has been another turbulent year so far for the Indianapolis Colts.
Missing out on the playoffs after getting clowned by the Jaguars in January to benching their new starting quarterback just a third of the way through the following campaign. Not exactly going to plan.
Having traded for former league MVP Matt Ryan before the new season, the Colts expected improved play at quarterback, after a year of inconsistency under Carson Wentz.
But after just seven games of the 2022 NFL season, the Colts have decided to make a change at the position.
Second-year Sam Ehlinger will make his first start of the season against the Washington Commanders on October 30, head coach Frank Reich announced, stating that it is the plan for him to start of the remainder of 2022.
Why the Colts are making the switch
Ryan suffered a separated throwing shoulder in the Week Seven defeat to AFC South rivals the Tennessee Titans. But his demotion is not solely injury related.
Ryan leads the NFL in interceptions with nine, included two against the Titans, and in fumbles with 11. He’s also been sacked a whopping 24 times already this season, with a large proportion as a result of his own making.
The Colts offense generally is really struggling at the moment, ranking 29th in scoring at an average of just 16.1 points per game. Yes, the run game is nowhere near where it was in 2021. The Colts have rushed for just 567 yards over seven games, the third lowest in the entire league, with Jonathan Taylor not fully fit. The offensive line has been sluggish, particularly at left tackle.
But Ryan’s inconsistencies so far this year have been so obvious to anyone watching. Something needed to change, and Matty Ice has become the fall guy.
Have we seen the last of Matt Ryan in Indianapolis? Probably. He may have signed a two-year deal in March, but already it seems best for both parties to move on. The former league MVP will want to end his career on his own terms and on a high, so will need to move on for his own sake.
What to expect for the rest of 2022
Against the Commanders, Ehlinger will become the seventh quarterback to start a game for the Colts since 2018. At this stage, public opinion seemingly expects little of the former sixth-round pick. But he’s certainly impressed in Indianapolis since he was drafted.
“We think Sam Ehlinger has a really bright future,” general manager Chris Ballard said back in August after keeping the player on his roster.
Of course, if the former Texas Longhorn star performs well for the remainder of the year, he may put himself in the conversation as the future at the position for Indianapolis. But, all eyes, particularly those of owner Jim Irsay, will be on the 2023 NFL Draft and a fairly deep QB class coming out of college.
The question is, who else Irsay will be looking to replace.
The Colts overestimated with Matt Ryan. But their problems run a lot deeper. Their head coach Frank Reich is under pressure, while Ballard has failed miserably in his countless attempts to replace Andrew Luck, since he retired in 2018.
On the field, the offensive line looks diminished and there isn’t consistency among their wideouts. And no doubt they’ll be struggles with Ehlinger too.
The Colts have had a lot to deal with at the quarterback position since Luck walked out the door. Zero division titles and zero playoff wins since 2018 is a poor return for an otherwise strong side over the years. But after four seasons on, the team should turn the page on their veteran QB recruitment strategies and finally rebuild from youth.
A new, young quarterback is a must going forward. But don’t expect too much for the remainder of 2022.
