Sam Ehlinger was named the Week 18 starting quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts in 2022, but that was hardly the main event Monday.
While quarterback Nick Foles (ribs) remains in physical pain and won’t play in the season finale, coach Jeff Saturday is sore at his offensive linemen for not coming to the aid of their fallen signal-caller.
New York Giants rookie Kayvon Thibodeaux celebrated his sack of Foles by doing snow angels right next to a writhing Foles during Sunday’s game, coming in contact with the QB during the display.
Saturday, who was a six-time Pro Bowl center, expressed disappointment on Monday that his linemen didn’t take matters into their own hands. He called Thibodeaux’s celebration “tasteless trash.”
“Disappointed from the O-line perspective and for teammates in general,” Saturday said. “We protect our own.”
As for Foles, Saturday said he’s “really sore … lot of pain” after suffering a rib injury on the hit from Thibodeaux.
While the sack from Foles’ blind side was clean, the Colts took umbrage with the rookie’s celebration while Foles was on the ground in pain.
“Hopefully his teammates will — maybe one day he’ll learn that injuries happen in this league, you never want to happen to the guy that you’re going against,” Colts center Ryan Kelly told reporters after the game. “That’s just horse****.”
Thibodeaux said he didn’t realize Foles was hurt while he was celebrating. A Colts trainer had to step around Thibodeaux and his celebration to tend to Foles.
Ehlinger replaced Foles and threw his first career touchdown in the Colts’ 38-10 loss to the Giants.
Ehlinger, 24, gets the nod for the Colts (4-11-1) against the visiting Houston Texans (2-13-1) and Matt Ryan will be QB2.
Ehlinger lost both of his previous starts against Washington and New England in Weeks 8-9. He has completed 41 of 66 passes for 364 yards this season.
–Field Level Media