Indianapolis Colts quarterback Matt Ryan. Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

Colts benching QB Matt Ryan, will start Sam Ehlinger Week 8 vs. Commanders

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 10/24/22

It was reported Monday morning that some NFL scouts believe that Matt Ryan's arm was " shot ." While he hasn't come out and used those exact words (and likely won't), Colts head coach Frank Reich made a telling announcement on Monday afternoon, saying that Ryan is being demoted from the starting quarterback role in favor of second-year pro Sam Ehlinger.

Per Frank Reich, QB Sam Ehlinger will start in #WASvsIND. pic.twitter.com/Y3hX6C8CqQ
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) October 24, 2022

Zak Keefer of The Athletic further reported that Reich has named Ehlinger the starter for the rest of the season and that while "Matty Ice" is currently dealing with a shoulder sprain, the change under center was going to be made either way. With the injury to Ryan, backup duties will go to former Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles.

To clarify: the Colts are making the switch at QB regardless of Matt Ryan's injury. The plan, as of now, is for Sam Ehlinger to be the starting quarterback the rest of the season.
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) October 24, 2022

Frank Reich on Sam Ehlinger: "He'll be ready. He'll be ready. Is he gonna make mistakes? Of course he's gonna make mistakes. But he's gonna make plays for our offense."
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) October 24, 2022

Frank Reich openly admitting what we've been writing for weeks — that the Colts didn't hold up their end of the bargain with Matt Ryan, re: a great o-line and great run game. "We didn't deliver," Reich said.
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) October 24, 2022

Ryan was traded from the Atlanta Falcons to Indianapolis in March in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2022 draft. Through seven games, the team is 3-3-1 and Ryan has posted a 68.4% completion percentage for 2,008 passing yards, nine touchdowns and a league-leading nine interceptions.

Ehlinger will be the seventh starting quarterback for the Colts since 2018 -- Andrew Luck's final season before his abrupt retirement.

More must-reads: