Matt Ryan has started each of his 239 appearances (including playoffs) in the NFL, but he’ll find himself behind Sam Ehlinger on the depth chart for Sunday’s game against the Commanders. Despite the sudden change of role, Ryan told Joel E. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star that he hasn’t thought about asking the Colts for a trade.
Ryan is currently dealing with a shoulder issue, and while there’s a chance he’ll be active against Washington, the QB admitted that the injury is significant. Either way, the Colts made it clear that their change atop the QB depth chart would have happened regardless of the veteran’s health. Now, Ryan will likely find himself serving as a backup for the rest of the season.
“That part is different,” Ryan said of his new role. “But I’ve also learned in this league, it’s tough to assume anything. The minute you start to make assumptions about how things are going to shake out, you just never know. For me, No. 1, it’s about getting healthy and getting myself into a position where I’m staying ready.”
Ryan also acknowledged that he was disappointed in his performance through the first seven games. While the Colts are a respectable 3-3-1, the offense has been inconsistent, with Ryan completing 68.4 percent of his passes while tossing nine touchdowns vs. nine interceptions.
“Individually and personally disappointed,” Ryan said. “As a player and a competitor, you want to be out there. You want to go. … It’s part of the deal in this league. You’ve got to produce.”
More notes from around the AFC…
- After asking for a trade and sitting out Week 7, Elijah Moore has rejoined the Jets, according to Brian Costello of the New York Post (on Twitter). The receiver is expected to be active for Week 8. The 2021 second-round pick has been limited to only 16 catches in six games this season, including zero catches on zero targets in New York’s Week 6 win over the Packers. That empty stat line ultimately prompted Moore’s trade request.
- Speaking of the Jets, the team made headlines when they acquired running back James Robinson from the Jaguars earlier this week. While Robinson saw a reduced role during his last few games in Jacksonville, it wasn’t necessarily because of an impending trade. Jaguars coach Doug Pederson told reporters that the team wasn’t actively shopping the running back, per ESPN’s Michael DiRocco on Twitter. The Jets initiated trade talks after losing star rookie RB Breece Hall for the season. “I have a ton of respect for James,” Pederson said. “He put himself in a position to help our football team, and now he gets a chance to do that with the Jets and wishing him well.”
- Tre’Davious White has missed the first chunk of the season while recovering from a torn ACL, but Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier told reporters that the cornerback’s return to the lineup doesn’t appear to be “that far away” (via Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic on Twitter). White returned to practice before Week 6, and his three-week window will soon be coming to an end. While it doesn’t sound like he’ll be active on Sunday night, there’s a good chance he’ll be back for Week 9.
- Chargers cornerback J.C. Jackson had surgery yesterday to repair his patellar tendon, per NFL Network’s Bridget Condon on Twitter. The surgery generally takes around eight to nine months to recover from. The offseason acquisition ruptured the tendon on Sunday, ending his 2022 campaign prematurely.
2nd round pick Elijah Moore hoping for a quick edit lol
Beat me to it lol. Kudos sir!
As of 9:30 AM ET, it still reads the same.
Also, there’s this…”That empty stat line ultimately promoted Moore’s trade request.”
I think they meant prompted.
This Colts game of bringing in washed-up QB’s is not going too well. The Matthew Stafford trade has lost its shine in LA. The Russell Wilson trade has borne everything except fruit. An Aaron Rodgers trade would have sunk whatever team acquired Rodgers. Rodgers may still go but at a reduced price, even though he’s not the problem and won’t be the solution.
Trading for veteran QB’s close to the end of a career does not seem a good trend. Durability is gone so the good are very fragile.
Well, he helped them get a ring in a way Goff couldn’t and the trade will not build the Lions the way the Herschel Walker trade built the Cowboys.
Mostly true. Montana had some success with the Chiefs and Cunningham was awesome for the Vikings. Favre threw that ugly pick for Minnesota, but got them to the playoffs.
Good on Joe Douglas for initiating talks for Robinson. We have yet to see how effective he’ll be in the offense, but the fact that he wasn’t being shopped means that Douglas or someone in his office was looking actively for players around the league that they could acquire if need be.
And, again, we don’t know how he’ll end up working out, but the GM saw a need open and filled it immediately instead of waiting around for production to stagnate and signing a practice squad player. It shows initiative on his end, so in that one aspect, I respect it.
Agreed! Let’s hope they make a move for the OL before it’s too late
Ryan. “ hasn’t ask for a trade?” Hard to trade when no team would want him.
It seems clear to me that Ryan is okay with not playing so that he can remain on the roster to get paid.