Colts bench injured QB Ryan
The Indianapolis Colts thought Matt Ryan would help them make a playoff run, maybe even win a championship.
Instead, the bruised and battered 15-year veteran is getting benched.
Coach Frank Reich announced Monday that second-year quarterback Sam Ehlinger will make his starting debut Sunday against the Commanders.
“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.”
The move comes one day after a 19-10 loss at Tennessee in which Ryan threw two interceptions and was sacked three times, the first apparently resulting in a separated throwing shoulder late in the first half.
He was 18 of 21 with 123 yards and one touchdown in the second half, but couldn't complete his fourth fourth-quarter comeback this season. Even if Ryan wasn't hurt, Reich said, the decision would have been the same.
“The shoulder injury is real, but this move was going to be made either way,” he said.
Ryan, who has thrown nine interceptions and has 11 fumbles, both league highs, did not speak with reporters Monday. He is usually available Wednesdays.
Jets lose two starters
The New York Jets are off to their best start since 2010, the most recent time they made the playoffs — a drought that is the NFL’s longest. The Jets will look for their first five-game winning streak since 2015 when they play host to the Patriots, against whom they have lost 12 straight, on Sunday afternoon.
But coach Robert Saleh opened his Zoom call with reporters Monday by delivering the news rookie running back Breece Hall and versatile offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker — perhaps the Jets’ two best players on offense during their 5-2 start — are out for the rest of the season.
Hall has a torn ACL in his left knee, while Vera-Tucker has a torn triceps. And they both came within a six-minute span in the second quarter of the Jets’ 16-9 victory at Denver on Sunday.
Hall, a second-rounder from Iowa State, had quickly emerged as a playmaker capable of scoring at any time. Just as he did on his 62-yard TD when he hit 21.87 miles per hour, according to Next Gen Stats, the fastest by a ball carrier this season.
The Jets moved quickly to replace Hall by trading a conditional late-round draft pick to Jacksonville for James Robinson, according to a person familiar with the deal.
Robinson, a third-year pro who lost his starting job to former Clemson star Travis Etienne two weeks ago, still needs to pass a physical. Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said Monday that the running back has been dealing with “lower-body issues, mostly in his knees right now.”
Cedric Ogbuehi, a first-round pick of the Bengals in 2015, will take Vera-Tucker’s place at right tackle.
Jackson out for year
Chargers cornerback JC Jackson will miss the rest of the season after he ruptured the patellar tendon in his right knee during the second quarter of Sunday’s game against the Seahawks.
Jackson’s knee appeared to give out as he was attempting to elevate while contesting a touchdown catch by Seattle’s Marquise Goodwin in the end zone.
Jackson signed a five-year, $82.5 million contract after New England did not place the franchise tag on him. He had struggled after having ankle surgery in the preseason.
Los Angeles — which will be on its bye this week — will also be missing wide receiver Mike Williams for multiple games after he suffered a high ankle sprain during the fourth quarter.
QB Walker keeps job
P.J. Walker has earned another start for the Panthers following their win over the Buccaneers. Panthers interim coach Steve Wilks said he’s still unsure of where Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold are in their rehabs from ankle injuries, but said regardless that Walker played well and deserves to start against the Falcons . . . Giants rookie tight end Daniel Bellinger is going to be sidelined indefinitely after fracturing an eye socket and septum against the Jaguars. Coach Brian Daboll said there is a chance he can play again this season . . . Dolphins safety Brandon Jones will be placed on injured reserve with a knee injury he suffered in the third quarter of Sunday’s game against the Steelers. Coach Mike McDaniel didn’t say if Jones’s injury will keep him out for the rest of the season . . . Tennessee coach Mike Vrabel said quarterback Ryan Tannehill is doing “good” and progressing a day after leaving the stadium with a fourth straight victory and his right foot in a walking boot . . . Niners Kyle Juszczyk had surgery after breaking a finger in the loss to the Chiefs. However, coach Kyle Shanahan said Juszczyk is expected back after the bye Nov. 13 . . . Browns starting linebacker Jacob Phillips will likely miss the remainder of the season after sustaining a pectoral injury during Sunday’s 23-20 loss to the Ravens. Also, tight end David Njoku could miss significant time with an ankle injury for the Browns . . . Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf injured his patellar tendon but does not need surgery at this time, according to coach Pete Carroll
. . . Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis is out for the season with a foot injury sustained after his interception against the Lions.