One QB training camp battle is already shaping up to be epic

The Colts are expecting veteran Gardner Minshew to give their future young quarterback a run for his money this offseason.

Nothing like a classic rookie vs. veteran camp battle to get the NFL season underway. The Indianapolis Colts have a loitering question mark at the quarterback position, and depending on how their offseason plays out, they could feasibly name veteran Gardner Minshew as the Week 1 starter.

Minshew joined ex-Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen in Indy earlier this year, migrating from the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl-contending squad to what many consider to be a rebuilding Colts franchise.

Indy made some questionable moves in the past (should Frank Reich have been fired, really?) and the future holds quite a few more franchise-altering decisions.

When asked about Minshew’s chances of starting for the team in 2023, Colts head coach Steichen gave a vague response indicating that Minshew’s role was to just “compete.”

Steichen said:

“Right now, obviously, he’s coming in to just compete and be the best he can be, you know, and that’s where we’re going. That’s where we feel he’s at right now and that’s his role right now.”

Colts’ QB room is going to get down and dirty with Gardner Minshew and a rookie

Minshew and Steichen share two years of experience during their joint time on the Eagles; in that span, Minshew has played in nine games and started four.

The mustachioed veteran was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019, started in 14 games in his rookie year, and then was slowly phased out before finally leaving the franchise at the beginning of the Trevor Lawrence era.

Minshew has served as Hurts’ backup for the past two years, and this past season he posted 663 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions in five games. His familiarity with Steichen is arguably his biggest selling point on this Colts roster, and as Steichen said himself, Minshew will by all means “compete” for the starting job.

With the No. 4 overall pick in the draft, Indy is projected to land a potential franchise quarterback whether it’s Florida’s Anthony Richardson, Kentucky’s Will Levis, or perhaps C.J. Stroud or Bryce Young if the Colts trade up the board.

Indy has been rumored to sign Lamar Jackson too, though that appears to be a mere pipe dream at the moment.

Minshew proved a worthy backup to Jalen Hurts during Philly’s 2022 Super Bowl run. This upcoming season, the Colts will see if Minshew can turn into anything more.

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Author: Kristen Wong
March 27, 2023 | 11:22 am