Indianapolis Colts Odds: Colts Super Bowl Odds Remain the Same After Matt Ryan Benched for Sam Ehlinger
Indianapolis Colts Odds: Colts Super Bowl Odds Remain the Same After Matt Ryan Benched for Sam Ehlinger
Monday afternoon, the Indianapolis Colts announced veteran quarterback Matt Ryan is benched, and the team will start Sam Ehlinger at quarterback in their upcoming Week 8 matchup.
Matt Ryan Benched
In stunning news, Matt Ryan is benched in favor of Sam Ehlinger. That's right, just one week after Ryan set the Colts' franchise record with 42 completions in a comeback win over the Jaguars, he has been benched in favor of the second-year quarterback who was drafted in the sixth round in 2021 by Indy. Ryan threw for 243 yards and just one touchdown and also threw a pick-six in the Colts Week 7 loss to the AFC South rival Titans. The Colts are 3-3-1 in the AFC South and, despite dropping their two meeting with Tennessee, have a fair shot at the division with ten games still to play.
Speculations are abundant on why the Colts are opting to bench Ryan, as Ehlinger wasn't a highly touted prospect. Reich and Chris Ballard loved Sam coming out of Texas and kept referencing he has the "it" factor following the 2021 draft. He is mobile with a good arm but, as a rookie, is likely to make plenty of mistakes. Ryan picked up an injury in the loss this Sunday with what is being reported as a Grade 2 sprain of his throwing shoulder.
Ehlinger will become the seventh different starting quarterback for the Colts since 2018 under Head Coach Frank Reich! Veteran journeyman Nick Foles will serve as the Colts backup, as Reich stated Ryan will not regain the starting job when he is healthy. Are the Colts tanking? Quite possibly, as they search for a franchise quarterback to replace what was once a non-issue for Indy before the surprise retirement of Andrew Luck. Matt Ryan is 37 years old and has thrown 9 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, and 11 fumbles in his short stint with the Colts. His time as a starter in the NFL could be coming to a crashing halt.
Even with the change at quarterback, the Colts Super Bowl odds remain exactly the same at +8500 (Bet $100 to collect $8600). The Colts AFC South division odds are sitting at +200 (Bet $100 to collect $300).
In Week 8, the Colts host the Washington Commanders, who are currently led by Taylor Heinicke. So maybe there's a good chance the Colts kick off the Sam Ehlinger era with a win.