Sam Ehlinger News

Ehlinger's pair of turnovers, which unfolded on consecutive second-quarter possessions, certainly didn't help, especially with the first resulting a pick-six and the second coming two yards away from the Texans' end zone. However, Ehlinger did put some solid numbers otherwise, with his afternoon highlighted by one- and four-yard touchdown passes to Michael Pittman and Mo-Alie Cox, respectively. Ehlinger gained valuable experience this season while drawing his first three NFL starts and making four appearances overall, and he'll enter the offseason as the primary (and latest) candidate to try and bring some much long-awaited stability to the Colts' quarterback position come 2023.

Indianapolis Colts head coach Jeff Saturday said Monday that quarterback Sam Ehlinger will start in the team's Week 18 game against the Houston Texans. Saturday said Monday that Week 17 starter Nick Foles (ribs) will not be available for the game after suffering a painful rib injury last week, meaning Ehlinger will make his third career start in Week 18. Ehlinger stepped in halfway through the Colts' Week 17 loss, completing 9 of his 14 passes for 60 yards and a touchdown.

With Matt Ryan benched and Nick Foles (ribs) ruled out, Ehlinger will draw his third start of the season. The 2021 sixth-round pick completed 32 of 52 passes for 304 yards and one interception across back-to-back starts in Weeks 8 and 9. After being a healthy inactive in Week 17, Ryan is expected to operate as the backup to Ehlinger during the Colts' final game of the 2022 campaign.

The second-year signal-caller's final numbers were respectable and mistake-free, and he even facilitated Indianapolis' only touchdown of the afternoon with a six-yard pass to Michael Pittman late in the third quarter. Ehlinger could be in line for his third start of the season in a Week 18 home matchup against the Texans if Foles is unable to suit up and interim head coach Jeff Saturday opts to keep Matt Ryan as a backup.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Sam Ehlinger started the second half of the team's Week 17 game against the New York Giants in place of starter Nick Foles (ribs). Foles suffered a painful rib injury on a sack towards the end of the first half, and was carted to the locker room for evaluation. The Colts ruled him out shortly afterwards, meaning Sam Ehlinger will start the second half in his place. Foles completed 8 of his 13 attempts for 81 yards and a pick before his injury. Hopefully the veteran was able to avoid a serious injury on the play.

As a result, Matt Ryan is line line to be the Colts' No. 3 QB this week and is thus a candidate to be made inactive Monday. Ehlinger last saw game action in Week 9, when he drew his second consecutive start in the team's 26-3 loss to the Patriots.