Nick Foles

Matt Ryan has been benched for the second time this season.

Indianapolis Colts interim head coach Jeff Saturday announced Nick Foles will start their Week 16 game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night.

The quarterback change comes after Ryan and the Colts blew a 33-point lead Saturday in a 39-36 overtime loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

ESPN's Dan Graziano noted the plan is for Foles to start the final three games of the regular season.

The Colts previously benched Ryan after a Week 7 loss to the Tennessee Titans. Then-head coach Frank Reich announced Oct. 24 that second-year quarterback Sam Ehlinger would take over as the starter.

"Right now, the move is for Sam to be the starter the rest of the season," Reich said. "It's a big step, but we think he's ready. This guy's special. You all know it, everybody knows it. Just talk to anybody in that locker room."

Per The Athletic's Zak Keefer, Colts owner Jim Irsay led the charge to bench Ryan, and general manager Chris Ballard has "long thought Sam Ehlinger's had something to him."

After the Colts fired Reich following a Nov. 6 loss to the New England Patriots and hired Saturday on an interim basis, Ryan returned to the starting lineup for the Colts in their next game.

Ryan put up arguably his best performance of the season against the Las Vegas Raiders. He went 21-of-28 for 222 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions in a 25-20 win.

In four games since that victory, though, Ryan has completed 62.5 percent of his attempts for 827 yards with four touchdowns and four interceptions and has been sacked 13 times.

Indianapolis has lost all four of those games, including allowing the Vikings to pull off the largest comeback in NFL history Saturday.

Even in building a 33-0 lead in the first half against Minnesota, the Colts offense wasn't moving the ball. Ryan finished 19-of-33 for 182 yards and one touchdown. The four-time Pro Bowler leads the league with 13 interceptions and 15 fumbles despite missing two games.

Foles has only appeared in one game this season, taking two garbage-time snaps in a 24-0 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2. The Super Bowl LII MVP hasn't started a game since Week 16 of the 2021 season when he led the Chicago Bears to a 25-24 win over the Seattle Seahawks.

The 4-9-1 Colts are in third place in the AFC South. Their final three games of the season are against the Chargers, New York Giants and Houston Texans.

Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich remains confident in Matt Ryan despite the veteran quarterback's shaky start to the 2022 NFL season.

"My evaluation and my comfort with Matt Ryan as our starting quarterback is very high," Reich told reporters Monday.

Ryan is tied with Matthew Stafford for the league lead in interceptions (seven) and has already matched his career high for fumbles (11).

Ryan's performance so far has been nothing short of a disaster given that he was supposed to be the missing piece that helped lift Indianapolis into Super Bowl contention.

Nobody expected to see the 2016 MVP version of Ryan when the Colts traded for him in the offseason. But the hope was that he could still perform at a high enough level to be an upgrade over Carson Wentz.

Instead, Indianapolis might be getting worse quarterback play.

Reich doesn't have much choice but to keep the faith in Ryan. Nick Foles and Sam Ehlinger are the next two QBs in the depth chart, and neither is a workable solution in a starting role.

Cutting down on the turnovers could go a long way toward improving the narrative for Ryan. His 275.2 passing yards per game and 65.5 percent completion rate are right around his career averages.

But being more efficient through the air might not matter that much given the current state of Indianapolis' offensive line. The unit has allowed 21 sacks, the most in the NFL, and its work in the running game hasn't been much better. Jonathan Taylor's yards per carry have fallen from 5.0 and 5.5 in 2020 and 2021 to 4.0.

Regardless, the short-term bet on Ryan hasn't paid off so far, and at this rate, the Colts are heading into yet another offseason in which they need to target a quarterback.

The Philadelphia Eagles were reportedly "involved" in the free agency of Nick Foles and discussed a potential reunion with the veteran quarterback before he signed a two-year deal with the Indianapolis Colts, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. 

The Eagles ultimately chose to stand pat with a quarterback group that includes Jalen Hurts as the starter, veteran Gardner Minshew as his backup and undrafted free agent rookie Carson Strong as the third-stringer, though ESPN reported that the team did receive trade inquiries for Minshew. 

But Foles is, without exaggeration, a legend in Philadelphia.

The 33-year-old famously led the Eagles to a title in Super Bowl LII, throwing for 373 yards and three touchdowns—and catching a touchdown pass as part of the iconic Philly Special trick play—in the team's 41-33 win over Tom Brady's New England Patriots. 

While Foles has played his best NFL football as a member of the Eagles—he won four playoff games as a starter for the team in multiple postseasons and also threw for 27 touchdowns and only two interceptions for Chip Kelly's Birds in 2013—he's been more of a journeyman outside of the City of Brotherly Love. He made far less of an impact in stops with the St. Louis Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears. 

In Philadelphia, Foles threw for 8,703 career yards, 58 touchdowns and 23 interceptions in 40 games (32 starts). Outside of the Eagles, however, those numbers dipped to 5,300 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and 20 picks in 28 games (24 starts). 

Contracts with the Jacksonville Jaguars (four years, $88 million, traded after one season) and the Rams (two years, $24.5 million for 11 starts in one season and $9.7 in dead cap after his release) proved to be particular unfriendly from the team side. 

One benefit of joining the Colts is that Foles will be reunited with Frank Reich, his offensive coordinator with the Eagles in 2017, who is now Indy's head coach. That reunion didn't work between Reich and former Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, who flamed out after one season in Indianapolis and was traded to the Washington Commanders this offseason. 

But Wentz was brought in to be the starter, while Foles will serve as a backup to Matt Ryan. If the Colts do need to call upon him, they'll be hoping he and Reich can cook up some of that Philly magic from 2017. 

The Indianapolis Colts agreed to terms on a contract with quarterback Nick Foles on Monday, which Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported will be for two years.

Following the conclusion of the 2022 NFL draft, the Chicago Bears announced they had released Foles. ESPN's Courtney Cronin reported the move came after Chicago was unable to find a deal to trade the veteran signal-caller.

Many expected Foles to be on a different team when the 2022 season kicked off.

After the Bears signed Andy Dalton and selected Justin Fields in the first round of the 2021 draft, the 33-year-old had fallen to third in the depth chart. He made just one appearance, going 24-of-35 for 250 yards and one touchdown in a Week 16 win over the Seattle Seahawks.

As the offseason unfolded, Foles' status remain unchanged. Fields was set to remain the starter in Week 1, and Chicago signed Trevor Siemian to replace Dalton.

Foles caught lightning in a bottle with the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2017 season as he filled in for an injured Carson Wentz. He threw for 439 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions in the final three regular-season games.

The Arizona product then earned his place in Philadelphia sports lore when he was named MVP of Super Bowl LII as the Eagles lifted the Vince Lombardi Trophy for the first time.

Foles got his chance to be a full-time starter again in 2019, when the Jacksonville Jaguars handed him a four-year, $88 million contract. However, he suffered a broken left clavicle in his first appearance, and he started only three more games for the Jags.

In all likelihood, the door has closed on Foles becoming more than a backup or an emergency starter. He hasn't logged double-digit starts in a season since 2015, and he was largely mediocre when the Bears gave him an extended look in 2020. The 2013 Pro Bowler threw for 1,664 yards, seven touchdowns and seven interceptions over a stretch of seven starts.

While it's unlikely to energize the fanbase, this signing fortifies Indianapolis' depth at quarterback, and Foles has already shown once that a good backup can be worth his weight in gold.

There's no question about Matt Ryan's status as the Week 1 starter. The 37-year-old didn't have one of his most prolific seasons in 2021 (3,968, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions), but he might be a big enough upgrade over Carson Wentz to make the team a genuine title contender.

The Colts' backup situation was a little less solid, with Sam Ehlinger, James Morgan and Jack Coan all in the mix. For a franchise with short-term ambitions, Foles is a much better fit behind Ryan in the depth chart.

It appears former Chicago Bears quarterback Nick Foles won't be spending much time as a free agent. 

The Indianapolis Colts are "working to add" Foles, according to The Athletic's Zak Keefer, who added it's possible the veteran quarterback will pen to paper by next week.

Colts head coach Frank Reich told reporters last week that the franchise would be interested in adding a veteran to back up Matt Ryan, whom the team acquired from the Atlanta Falcons this offseason.

Adding Foles would make a lot of sense, as he won Super Bowl LII as Philadelphia's starting quarterback with Reich as his offensive coordinator. In addition, the Colts just have Sam Ehlinger and James Morgan behind Ryan on the depth chart. Neither has attempted a pass during the regular season.

After winning the Super Bowl, Foles played one more season in Philly before signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who traded him to the Bears in March 2020. He spent the 2019 season in Jacksonville, completing 65.8 percent of his passes for 736 yards and three touchdowns against two interceptions in four starts. 

Foles has spent each of the last two seasons in Chicago, sharing time at quarterback with Justin Fields, Mitchell Trubisky and Andy Dalton. In 10 games across those two seasons, including eight starts, he completed 65.1 percent of his passes for 2,102 yards and 11 touchdowns against eight interceptions. 

If the Colts fail to add Foles, there are still a number of veteran free-agent quarterbacks available, including Ryan Fitzpatrick, Cam Newton and Mike Glennon. That said, Foles is arguably the best available. 

The Colts finished the 2021 season with a 9-8 record. Indy hasn't made a deep playoff run since 2014, when it lost the AFC title game, but Ryan could be the one to get the team back to the promised land this coming season. 

The Carolina Panthers may have drafted Matt Corral in the third round, but they're still expected to consider adding a veteran quarterback this offseason.

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported the Panthers plan to "kick around the idea" of adding Jimmy Garoppolo, Baker Mayfield or Nick Foles to compete with Corral and Sam Darnold. 

Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer told reporters Saturday that the team is "happy with the group we have."

"I never put an absolute on anything," he said. "We came into this weekend with the intention of getting a quarterback, and that's what we did. And we're going to go with this group."

The Panthers' ultimate decision on whether to add a veteran may come down to price point. Foles was released by the Chicago Bears on Sunday, making him the only option of the three currently available on the free-agent market. He'll also be by far the cheapest of the trio, given Garoppolo ($24.2 million) and Mayfield ($18.9 million) are both set to get starter-level money in 2022.

It's possible the 49ers or Browns wind up outright releasing their high-priced backups, though that seems far likelier to happen in Cleveland than in San Francisco. Garoppolo remains in good standing with the 49ers coaching staff and is well-liked by teammates. It's possible the team simply keeps him around as the NFL's highest-paid backup.

Mayfield seems far likelier to agitate his way out of Cleveland. He's already requested a trade and went public in saying he felt "disrespected" by the organization. It would be an untenable situation to have him on the roster going into training camp, especially given the sexual assault allegations against Deshaun Watson already creating a significant distraction.

The Panthers may be more willing to bring Mayfield in via trade if the Browns agree to eat a significant chunk of his 2022 salary. 

The Chicago Bears have released quarterback Nick Foles, according to his agent Justin Schulman.

Mike Garafolo of NFL Network relayed the news.

Foles will account for $6.667 million in dead cap space, per Aaron Leming of Bear Report.

It's been a disappointing three years for Foles, who signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019 on a four-year, $88 million deal. The Bears acquired the quarterback in 2020 in exchange for a fourth-round pick.

In both stops, Foles had a chance to be the starting quarterback but couldn't get it done on the field.

The 33-year-old finished the 2019 season with three touchdown passes and two interceptions in four games, averaging 184.0 passing yards per game. He wasn't much better in 2020 with an average of 205.8 passing yards across nine games, throwing 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

He had just an 81.8 quarterback rating across those two years.

After the Bears drafted Justin Fields and signed Andy Dalton, Foles dropped to third on the depth chart. He ended up starting one game, leading the Bears to a 25-24 road win over the Seattle Seahawks after completing 24 of 35 passes for 250 yards and one touchdown.

Foles still possesses plenty of upside, as he showed during his time with the Philadelphia Eagles. The veteran led the Eagles to the first Super Bowl in franchise history after taking over for an injured Carson Wentz late in the 2017 season.

The quarterback won Super Bowl MVP after totaling three passing touchdowns and a receiving touchdown in the win over the New England Patriots.

In six playoff starts, Foles has a 98.8 career quarterback rating.

In 2013, the Arizona product earned his only Pro Bowl selection when he threw 27 touchdown passes and just two interceptions during his first stint with the Eagles.

The Chicago Bears are reportedly exploring trade options for Nick Foles after they added another veteran to their quarterback room Friday.

According to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, the Bears had already looked into trade opportunities and will continue to do so in relation to Foles. Garafolo added that the "writing is on the wall" when it comes to the end of Foles' tenure in Chicago.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported earlier Friday that the Bears signed veteran quarterback Trevor Siemian to a two-year, $4 million contract in free agency. Siemian figures to be the backup for second-year man Justin Fields.

Chicago acquired Foles from the Jacksonville Jaguars prior to the 2020 season for a fourth-round draft pick.

Foles essentially split time with Mitchell Trubisky, appearing in nine games and starting seven of them. Foles went just 2-5 as the starter and completed 64.7 percent of his passes for 1,852 yards, 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

The Bears allowed Trubisky to leave via free agency during the offseason, but Foles slid down the depth chart behind free-agent signing Andy Dalton and Fields, who was the No. 11 pick in the 2021 draft.

Foles played sparingly in 2021, starting one game, although he was victorious and went 24-of-35 for 250 yards with one touchdown and no picks.

The 33-year-old has been best utilized as a backup in recent seasons, but he will forever be remembered for his time with the Philadelphia Eagles and his remarkable playoff performance following the 2017 season.

When Carson Wentz went down late in the campaign with a torn ACL, Foles led one of the most unexpected runs in the history of the NFL's postseason.

He threw for 971 yards, six touchdowns and one interception in three playoff games, and he was named MVP in a shocking Super Bowl LII upset of Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

That same success has eluded him ever since with the Eagles, Jaguars and Bears, but there is value in having a veteran quarterback who has achieved such a level of greatness.

Foles has also shown that he can be a productive starter over lengthy stretches. Most notably, he went 8-2 in 10 starts and threw for 2,891 yards, 27 touchdowns and just two interceptions in 2013 with the Eagles, leading to his only Pro Bowl selection.

While Foles is a different player now, any number of teams could benefit from having a veteran backup of his ilk. Those teams may be content to sign him after he's released rather than giving up assets to get him, however.

The Chicago Bears have added another veteran to back up quarterback Justin Fields as he enters his second season.

Journeyman signal caller Trevor Siemian agreed to a two-year deal with Chicago on Friday, his agent Mike McCartney told ESPN. Siemian is set to replace or compete with Nick Foles for the Bears' backup QB spot.

Mike Garafolo of NFL Network added the Bears are taking trade offers for Foles.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Siemian's deal is worth $4 million with a chance to reach as much as $5 million "considering upside."

Siemian spent the 2021 season with the New Orleans Saints and appeared in six games, throwing for 1,154 yards with 11 touchdowns and three interceptions. He went 0-4 as a starter after he was thrust into the starting role when Jameis Winston tore his ACL in Week 8.

The 30-year-old entered the league as a seventh-round pick with the Denver Broncos in 2015. He was traded to the Minnesota Vikings ahead of the 2018 season to back up Kirk Cousins, but he didn't appear in a game for the team.

Siemian signed with the New York Jets the following year and was named the team's starter for Week 2 against the Cleveland Browns while Sam Darnold was out with mono. But Siemian's season was cut short when he suffered torn ligaments in his ankle during that matchup. He didn't appear in a game during the 2020 season while spending time on practice squads for the Saints and Tennessee Titans.

In his career, Siemian has thrown for 6,843 yards with 41 touchdowns and 27 interceptions in 33 games. He was a part of the Broncos' title-winning team in Super Bowl 50.

Fields is a promising young talent, but he struggled during his rookie season. In 12 games, he completed 58.9 percent of his passes for 1,870 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He will be playing for a new coaching regime in 2022 after the Bears hired Matt Eberflus as head coach to replace Matt Nagy.