Credit: The Indianapolis Star-USA TODAY Sports
With the status Carson Wentz up in the air, where could the Indianapolis Colts turn for a fill-in?
Training camp has barely started around the NFL, and there’s already a notable injury. According to ESPN, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Carson Wentz will be sidelined indefinitely with a foot injury.
Adam Schefter has reported the injury is not expected to be season-ending. But NFL Network’s Michael Silver reported the team was “bracing” for surgery, and Wentz’s injury involves a bone and a ligament.
It’s early to make any broad declarations about how much time Wentz will miss. But surgery would definitely sideline him into the regular season, and leave the Colts without the quarterback they invested a lot in with an offseason trade.
The Colts are an AFC contender, with a run to the Super Bowl within the range of outcomes if Wentz could stay healthy and play more like he did earlier in his time with the Philadelphia Eagles. The first part of that equation already looks to be out the window, at least partially, but it may save Indianapolis from having to give Philadelphia their first-round pick in 2022.
If Wentz plays 75 percent of the snaps for the Colts this season, or plays 70 percent of the snaps and they make the playoffs, the best pick they gave up for him goes from a second to a first-rounder.
In any case, the Colts have to consider their options for replacing Wentz, perhaps for several regular season games. On Saturday morning they signed former Packer and Cardinal Brett Hundley, but there are more viable options out there. Here are five options for them to consider.
5 quarterback options for the Colts if Carson Wentz misses time
5.
Marcus Mariota
QB, Raiders
Mariota was signed to an incentive-laden deal by the Raiders during the 2020 offseason, but he only saw action last season when Derek Carr missed part of one game due to injury. That said, he was solid in that stint against the Miami Dolphins (17-for-28 for 226 yards, 88 rushing yards, two total touchdowns) and showed he could still be a starting quarterback in the league.
Mariota was the subject of some trade speculation during the offseason, but he wound up taking a pay cut to stay with the Raiders. As the Colts survey outside options, the former No. 2 overall pick is an obvious one it probably won’t take a lot to get.