Matt Ryan after benching — Must embrace being Colts backup

INDIANAPOLIS — Matt Ryan got here to work Monday morning planning to rehab his sore proper shoulder and switch his consideration to the Washington Commanders.

However the Indianapolis Colts quarterback was as an alternative hit with the beautiful information that he had misplaced his beginning job to 2021 sixth-round decide Sam Ehlinger.

“As a participant, you simply at all times anticipate, you are preparing, you are gonna go,” Ryan stated Wednesday in his first feedback because the Colts’ choice. “And in order that’s the place your mindset’s at. There’s a little bit shock and shock initially, but it surely’s a choice they needed to make and, as a participant, as a teammate, you must transfer ahead and you’ve got gotta assist out the place you may.”

Ryan has missed simply three begins in his 15-year profession and has by no means been a backup, even in his rookie season with the Atlanta Falcons. However after committing 12 turnovers in his first seven video games in Indianapolis, he now finds himself sitting behind a 24-year-old who has by no means thrown a move in a regular-season sport — a place Ryan will maintain even after he returns from his separated shoulder, in line with coach Frank Reich.

“It is not one thing I’ve handled,” Ryan stated of being a backup. “However I have been round a very long time and seen that it occurs.

“So I’ve at all times preached that you’ve got gotta settle for and embrace the function that they resolve for you and attempt to be the most effective in that function that you may be. And that is what I will do.”

Reich, requested why the Colts are making such a dramatic transfer despite their 3-3-1 report and second-place standing within the AFC South, rejected the concept that Indianapolis is giving up on the season.

“I can let you know this for positive: No one is waving the white flag,” Reich stated. “It is not in my DNA. It is not in our gamers’ DNA. I’d by no means do this in 1,000,000 years. I simply could not do this.”

As for the response of the crew to the quarterback choice, heart Ryan Kelly urged the response was combined.

“All people’s acquired their very own opinions about it,” Kelly stated. “I am not gonna get into mine, however actually, I believe all people’s a bit bit shocked. So it’s what it’s.”