Indianapolis Colts quarterback Matt Ryan is a healthy inactive for Monday night’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers, with Sam Ehlinger pegged to back up new starter Nick Foles.
Nick Foles was tabbed last week to be the Colts’ starter for the final three games of the season. However, it wasn’t known until Monday who would be QB2.
In addition to Ryan, the Colts’ other inactives for the game are CB Kenny Moore II (ankle), LB Cameron McGrone, OL Wesley French, TE Kylen Granson (ankle) and DL Chris Williams.
For the Chargers, QB Easton Stick, RB Sony Michel, S JT Woods, RB Isaiah Spiller, T Storm Norton and WR Michael Bandy are inactive for the game.
The move to Foles comes after the Colts squandered a 33-0 halftime lead in Week 15 and lost in overtime to the Minnesota Vikings.
Foles, 33, has appeared in just one game this season, taking two snaps. He hasn’t attempted a pass.
Indianapolis acquired Ryan in a trade with the Atlanta Falcons in the offseason, hoping he’d lead what was perceived as a playoff-ready team deep into the postseason. Instead, he’s being benched for the second time this season.
Former coach Frank Reich announced on Oct. 24 that Ehlinger would start the rest of the season, but that didn’t last long. Reich was fired Nov. 7, and interim coach Jeff Saturday put Ryan back in the starting lineup.
In the epic 39-36 loss to the Vikings, Ryan threw for 118 yards in the first half but only 64 in the second half and overtime.
The No. 3 overall pick by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2008 draft, Ryan is 4-7-1 as a starter this season. He has completed 67 percent of his passes this season for 3,057 yards with 14 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
Now 37, Ryan was the league MVP in 2016 with the Falcons. He is in the fourth year of a five-year, $150 million deal he signed with Atlanta and is being paid $24.7 million, per Spotrac.
–Field Level Media