Colts rookie quarterback Sam Ehlinger now splitting first-team reps with Jacob Eason
WESTFIELD, Ind. — The battle for the Indianapolis backup quarterback job is starting to boil.
The Colts gave rookie Sam Ehlinger first-team repetitions for the first time in training camp, splitting snaps with the No. 1 offense between the sixth-round pick and Jacob Eason, the second-year passer who had taken every first-team snap since a piece of bone broke loose in Carson Wentz’s foot during the team’s second practice.
Ehlinger has shown a remarkable grasp of the offense throughout training camp, getting the ball out of the pocket on time and accurately, and he didn’t throw an interception in 11-on-11 work until Sunday’s practice, the 10th workout of camp. Colts head coach Frank Reich said Saturday that there weren’t any imminent plans to give Ehlinger first-team reps, but after evaluating the way the rookie has played, Indianapolis decided to start splitting up the work.
“That wasn’t anything Jacob did wrong, but you know, this is a meritocracy, and we decided to split it up,” Reich said.
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Ehlinger opened his first-team work by firing a strike to T.Y. Hilton in man-to-man coverage, and he finished 4 of 6 with the No. 1s. The two incompletions came on a ball batted down by nose tackle Grover Stewart at the line of scrimmage and a drop by tight end Farrod Green, who was open in the flat.
The rookie finished the day 5 of 11 overall, according to the unofficial count by IndyStar.
Eason, for his part, responded to the change with one of his better practices so far. The 2020 fourth-round pick completed 9 of 10 throws, including a deep ball to Dezmon Patmon and a short throw to DeMichael Harris that might have been one of Eason’s best plays of training camp.
Patmon did the bulk of the work on the deep ball. If it had been a game, Eason would have been forced to do more to evade the free rushes of Zaire Franklin and Isaac Rochell, but he let fly a slightly underthrown ball that the 6-4 Patmon went up and ripped away from a defender hanging all over him. Two plays later, Eason saw pressure coming, made a nifty escape up into the pocket and found Harris with room to run.
“I was proud of the way both guys responded today, especially with Jacob, because he comes in, finds out, ‘Hey, you’re going to split the reps,’ and he comes out and has a good day,” Reich said. “That’s a good sign for Jacob, and there’s a lot on the line. Sam has done a good job.”
Both quarterbacks had to deal with a relentless pass rush. No quarterback can be taken down in practice, so it’s hard to identify sacks, but by IndyStar’s count, there were six, spread among Tyquan Lewis, Franklin and Rochell, Ben Banogu, Bobby Okereke, Kameron Cline and another by Rochell.
The Colts plan to continue splitting snaps between Ehlinger and Eason during joint practices with the Carolina Panthers later this week, although it will be more of a traditional division of labor during Sunday’s preseason opener.
“We’ll split the reps with the ones, more than likely, in practice, at quarterback, against the Panthers,” Reich said. “In the game, we’ll just let one guy go. Jacob will probably start and go, and then Sam will probably come in whenever, at some point in the second.”
Full (E.J.) Speed ahead
With Darius Leonard out for the first two weeks of training camp, the Colts have gotten an extended look at E.J. Speed, their fifth-round pick out of 2019 in Tarleton State.
Speed has only played 34 snaps on defense in his first two seasons, but he looks ready for more defensive action this season. Speed blew up a screen to Jack Doyle, fighting off a block by Julién Davenport to make the play.
The third-year linebacker then made back-to-back plays on Nyheim Hines later in the practice, ranging to the sideline to make one stop and fighting through traffic for the other. Now that Leonard’s on his way back, the Colts will likely start working Speed in at the strong-side linebacker position, where he’ll battle Zaire Franklin for the role. Franklin has also had a good camp; he flew through the line for a tackle-for-loss on Deon Jackson at one point on Tuesday.
Injury report
Leonard practiced for the first time in training camp, but the All-Pro linebacker was limited considerably, taking only a handful of snaps in 11-on-11 as he continues to work his way back from June ankle surgery.
“Having 53 out there doesn’t hurt, he brings a little extra juice to practice,” Reich said.
Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner was held out for the second consecutive practice for precautionary reasons, according to Reich, and starting right tackle Braden Smith did not practice for “maintenance” reasons. Smith was spotted on the field wearing a walking boot on his left foot.
Wentz and left guard Quenton Nelson, who each had surgery last week to remove a loose piece of bone from a foot, were back on the practice field for the first time to watch. Reich said it’s encouraging that both players are up and moving around, but he said the Colts are still waiting for two weeks to pass before making an evaluation on a potential timetable for return.
Free safety Julian Blackmon (knee), center Ryan Kelly (elbow), wide receiver Ashton Dulin (hamstring), tight end Mo Alie-Cox (knee), defensive tackle Taylor Stallworth (hamstring), tight end Noah Togiai (knee), linebacker Jordan Glasgow (back), Skai Moore (back) and safety Nick Nelson (undisclosed) also did not practice due to injury.
Eric Fisher, the starting left tackle the Colts signed in free agency, has been getting some workouts in after practice. Reich has been optimistic about Fisher, saying he watched one of Fisher’s workouts last week and jokingly told the trainers to put some pads on the veteran.
The Colts signed former Texans and Packers linebacker Curtis Bolton on Tuesday and waived offensive tackle Jake Benzinger.
Quick hitters
Davenport was given his first chance with the starters at left tackle, and he had some issues. Davenport got beat by Speed on the screen, and he also false started twice. … With Buckner and Stallworth out of action, veteran Antwaun Woods lined up next to Grover Stewart at defensive tackle. … Defensive back Andre Chachere, who has fought his way into the mix for a roster spot because of his versatility, picked off a pass in 1-on-1’s. Both Chachere and T.J. Carrie have played some free safety with Blackmon out of action. … The kick returners are Isaiah Rodgers, Nyheim Hines, Marlon Mack and likely Dulin when he comes back to the field.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Sam Ehlinger shares first-team QB reps with Jacob Eason at Colts camp
