Indianapolis Colts quarterback Sam Ehlinger was battling for an NFL roster spot as a sixth-round rookie draft pick. He was knocked out of the Colts’ final preseason game against the Detroit Lions with a knee injury. He did not return.
By all reports, it didn’t look good.
Ehlinger has been in competition with Jacob Eason for the No. 2 QB job behind Carson Wentz, whom the Colts got in a trade from the Philadelphia Eagles.
Wentz has been battling an injury himself, giving Ehlinger more opportunity to prove himself and possibly even become Indy’s No. 1 QB had he beaten out Easton.
Before getting injured, Ehlinger made some outstanding plays, including in the second quarter in which he avoided the rush and threw a strike to teammate Dezmon Patmon for a 60-yard pass play.
The Colts won the game 27-17, going undefeated in the preseason for the first time in 27 years. Wentz did not play in the game.
With both Wentz and Ehlinger out, the Colts chose to sit Eason for the remainder of the game, keeping him healthy for Week 1. QB Brett Hundley finished the game in mop-up duty.
The game would have been a good opportunity for Ehlinger to get more reps, even if he was to be the Colts’ No. 3 guy. Now, Colts fans are watching and waiting for an update on Ehlinger’s knee injury.
High School Star
Ehlinger was a star quarterback at Austin Westlake High School.
In 2015, he was named the Class 6A Offensive MVP by both the AP and Texas Sportswriters Association as a junior and he was named the district 14-6A Overall MVP.
That season, he passed for 3833 yards and 50 touchdowns and rushed for 1360 yards and 20 touchdowns.
In ’15, he led the Chaparrals to a 14-2 record and the 6A state championship game vs Galena Park North Shore. Ehlinger accounted for 301 total yards (219 passing, 82 rushing) but zero touchdowns in a 20-14 overtime loss to the Mustangs.
He signed to play college ball at the University of Texas. He finished his career with the Longhorns with 11,440 yards, 94 TDs, and 27 INTs, ranking him second on the school’s all-time list in passing yards and passing touchdowns.
Tony Thomas is a freelance writer. He also writes about college football on his own site, www.thegridironnews.com.
