When the Chicago Bears decided to leave with quarterback Nick Foles on May 1, speculation began to circulate about where he would play next.
Unsurprisingly, the Indianapolis Colts were at the top of the list. The connection was obvious, as Colts coach Frank Reich was the offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles when Foles was there in 2017. Foles replaced an injured Carson Wentz and won the Eagles’ Super Bowl championship that year.
The Colts starter is already established in the quarterback. After splitting with Wentz earlier in the league, the Colts made the move to bring former NFL MVP Matt Ryan from the Atlanta Falcons.
But questions remained as to whether the Colts would add a veteran to protect Ryan. The Colts, like Sam Ehlinger, took on the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft and won a replacement job as an innovator. But Ehlinger has yet to take on the NFL, and there are questions about his physical limitations.
Asked about the potential addition of Foles, Reich did not clarify whether the team was specifically considering it. He didn’t rule it out either.
“We’re always looking at who makes this team in all positions,” Reich said at the time. “Who are the available veterans? Who can we still sign? We’ve talked a lot about this, Chris (Ballard) is very methodical about that process. We are in no hurry. It’s time to dump her and move on. “
Speculation ended on Monday when the Colts announced they had signed a Foles contract. The former Super Bowl MVP is said to be a two-year deal as he reunites with his former offensive coordinator. He will be Ryan’s sponsor for the foreseeable future.
The Colts spent 2021 in the quarterback without proving a backup. While Wentz was an undisputed starter, Ehlinger and Jacob Eason battled for a replacement spot with worker Brett Hundley on the training team. Ehlinger won the job, and Colts cut Eason.
However, the Colts showed by their actions that they had little faith in their options for protection. Wentz played two sprained ankles in the 3rd week against the Tennessee Titans instead of the Colts turning to Eason or Hundley (Ehlinger was injured at the time). Get off the COVID-19 list and clearly not the same.
These two games were two of the worst games Wentz has played in last season. Despite not being 100% Wentz, Colts believed he was given a better chance of winning than other healthy options. It was Chris Ballard’s fault for the previous office and general manager not to address the issue before the season.
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The Foles signing move means Colts won’t have to worry about that this season. Ryan has been incredibly enduring throughout his career – he has only lost three games in his 14-year career and only one since 2010 – injuries could happen at any time. The Colts want to be ready in the unlikely event that Ryan comes down.
Foles is certainly not the first quarterback. As a substitute with the Bears last season, he only saw action in one game, 35 of the 24 (68.6%) for 250 yards and a touchdown. But as he did in that game, Foles is still able to start a bit and call when he wins a game.
It’s more of a signature that the Colts are earning when they win in 2022. For a team with deep playoff intentions, they leave nothing to chance and know that every game is worth it. Adding Foles behind Ryan gives the team insurance and stabilizes the quarterback room for the rest of the season.
With full respect for Folesi, the Colts hope not to see the pitch at all this season. But if he does, the Reich and company are confident he can get in and give them a chance to fight to win.
Foles ’signing move could have zero effect on what happens this season. On the other hand, the Colts could be the difference in capturing their first AFC South title in almost eight years.
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