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Drake London signs $141M deal with Falcons, becoming third highest-paid receiver in NFL: reports

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 22:20:02 -0400

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London can now call himself one of the highest-paid players in franchise history.

The Falcons and their top receiver have reportedly come to terms on a four-year, $141 million deal with $100 million guaranteed, according to ESPN. The deal can also reach $150 million with incentives.

At $35.25 million per year, London would become the NFL's third-highest-paid receiver. Only the Seattle Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who signed a record-breaking $168.8 million extension one month after helping his team win Super Bowl LX, and the Cincinnati Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase, who agreed to a $161 million deal in March 2025, would earn more.

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London, 24, was the Falcons’ first-round pick of the 2022 NFL Draft out of USC, and he has earned that draft slot after hauling in 309 receptions for 3,961 yards and 22 touchdowns across four seasons.

He was coming into this season on his fifth-year option, but the Falcons will not be playing that game with a cornerstone piece.

JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA, SEAHAWKS AGREE TO HISTORIC CONTRACT EXTENSION: REPORTS

However, they won’t be done shelling out massive deals, and London’s star offensive teammate, running back Bijan Robinson, might do more than just be one of the highest-paid players in franchise history.

Robinson cemented himself as one of the elite running backs in the NFL across just three seasons with Atlanta. Last season, he tallied a league-leading 2,298 scrimmage yards (1,478 rushing, 820 receiving, with 11 total touchdowns). He earned himself his first All-Pro honor, and there’s likely more to come for the shifty Texas product.

Philadelphia Eagles' Saquon Barkley is the highest-paid running back in the NFL at $20.6 million per year, but Robinson could crush that number depending on what he and the Falcons potentially agree to. It doesn’t have to come this year, but it’s certainly on the horizon.

The Falcons already picked up Robinson’s fifth-year option for the 2027 season.

As for London, the Falcons have a major decision to make heading into the 2026 season: determining who will be their starting quarterback. Whoever wins the job will be tasked with getting the ball to London and the rest of Atlanta's pass catchers, including tight end Kyle Pitts Sr., who will play the season on the franchise tag.

While Michael Penix Jr., who partially tore his ACL in his left knee last season, remains on the roster, the Falcons signed another lefty, former Miami Dolphins star Tua Tagovailoa, to give him some competition in training camp this summer.

Inconsistency at the quarterback position is what London and his teammates have had to deal with since he entered the league, with the likes of Desmond Ridder, Taylor Heinecke, and Marcus Mariota taking turns as the team’s starter before Kirk Cousins signed his massive three-year deal with Atlanta.

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London’s best year was in 2024 when he was Cousins’ clear top target, hauling in 100 of his 158 targets for a career-high 1,271 with nine touchdowns. However, Cousins didn’t hold on to his starting role, as Penix took over as the Week 1 starter. Once he sustained his injury, Cousins had to come in, and yet London still almost reached 1,000 yards.

With a new front office in place, led by Falcons legend and President of Football Matt Ryan, it's clear the team is committed to retaining its young core as it tries to return to playoff contention in the wide-open NFC South.

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Eli Manning fires back amid debate comparing ex-Giants star to Falcons great Matt Ryan

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 19:39:23 -0400

Eli Manning retired in 2019 and missed out in his first year of Hall of Fame eligibility in 2025. He was passed over again earlier this year but still fired back at a fan who claimed one of his contemporaries was the better quarterback.

On Tuesday, a social media user floated a theory about former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan. Ryan, who now oversees football operations as the team’s president, last played in an NFL game in 2022. He announced his retirement in 2024, making him eligible for Hall of Fame consideration beginning in 2028.

"Matt Ryan was a better QB than Eli Manning… people just worship rings. Agree or nah," the post read.

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Manning caught wind of the suggestion and weighed in, pointing to the two Super Bowl-winning teams he was part of during his standout run with the New York Giants.

"I will ponder this while I play with my rings…," Manning wrote in a quote-tweet.

Ryan’s statistical production surpasses Manning’s, at least on paper. He was named NFL MVP in 2016, an honor Manning never earned. Ryan is also the most accomplished player in Falcons history and finished his career with more than 62,000 regular-season passing yards, compared with Manning’s 57,023.

Both quarterbacks were selected to four Pro Bowls, but the key difference lies in championships. Manning won the Super Bowl in 2007 and 2011, while Ryan reached it once but fell short. Manning threw for a single season career-best 4,933 during the run leading up to the second Super Bowl title.

Ryan threw for 284 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions to help the Falcons build a 25-point lead in the championship game — a matchup remembered for the New England Patriots engineering the largest comeback in Super Bowl history.

Manning struck a measured tone in February when discussing his Hall of Fame chances.

"If I never get in the Hall of Fame, it’s not going to change anything," Manning told Forbes. "I’m not gonna be bitter or mad or upset, and if I do get in, it would just be an unbelievable honor to be associated with some of the great athletes and football players ever. But it’s not going to change my outlook or my approach to how I feel about the game of football."

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The Falcons have reached the Super Bowl twice in franchise history, first in 1998, but the team is still chasing its first elusive championship.

The Giants marked their 100th season in 2024, winning four Super Bowls over the franchise’s century-long history.

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Falcons hire franchise legend Matt Ryan to major front office role

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 13:31:28 -0500

The Atlanta Falcons have added one of the team’s greatest players to its front office.

The Falcons announced on Saturday that former quarterback Matt Ryan, who spent the first 14 years of his 15-year NFL career with the team after being drafted third overall in 2008, will be president of football on Saturday. The 40-year-old Ryan, who holds team records for passing yards, touchdowns and wins, will assume the new role immediately.

Ryan will report directly to owner Arthur Blank and collaborate with president and CEO Greg Beadles to ensure the alignment of the business and football areas of the organization.

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"Throughout his remarkable 14-year career in Atlanta, Matt's leadership, attention to detail, knowledge of the game and unrelenting drive to win made him the most successful player in our franchise's history," Blank said in a statement.

"I am confident those same qualities will be a tremendous benefit to our organization as he steps into this new role. From his playing days to his time as an analyst at CBS, Matt has always been a student of the game, and he brings an astute understanding of today's NFL, as well as unique knowledge of our organization and this market. I have full confidence and trust in Matt as we strive to deliver a championship caliber team for Atlanta and Falcons fans everywhere."

The Falcons fired head coach Raheem Morris on Sunday after back-to-back 8-9 seasons. The Falcons had won their last four games, leading some to believe Morris might be afforded a third season, but Blank had other plans.

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The Falcons also fired general manager Terry Fontenot after five seasons on Sunday. Ryan will be fully involved in the team’s search for the Falcons’ next head coach and general manager.

"Arthur gave me the chance of a lifetime almost twenty years ago, and he's done it again today," Ryan said in a statement.

"While I appreciate the time I had with the Colts and with CBS, I've always been a Falcon. It feels great to be home. I could not be more excited, grateful, or humbled by this new opportunity. I began my career with a singular goal: to do right by the Blank family, the Falcons organization, the City of Atlanta, and especially our fans. My commitment to the success of this franchise has not changed. I'm beyond ready to help write a new chapter of excellence."

Ryan has spent the last three seasons as a member of the CBS Sports team as an analyst.

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"I want to thank the incredible team at CBS Sports. I loved my three years there and I am truly grateful for their support in pursuing this opportunity. The CBS Sports culture is amazing, and I have made teammates and friends for life," Ryan said in a statement.

Ryan, who was drafted out of Boston College, played with the Falcons for 14 seasons and holds many franchise records, including passing yards (59,735), attempts (8,003), completions (5,242), passing touchdowns (367), passer rating (94.6), completion percentage (65.5) and 300-yard games (73).

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Ex-NFL star suggests Chiefs bench Patrick Mahomes for playoffs after ankle injury

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 10:47:29 -0500

Patrick Mahomes’ ankle injury came at an inopportune time for the Kansas City Chiefs, as they start down the home stretch of the 2024 season toward the playoffs.

Mahomes suffered the injury against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, days after he complained about having to go through three games in an 11-day stretch. NFL Network reported that he suffered a mild high-ankle sprain.

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Matt Ryan, a former NFL MVP who led the Atlanta Falcons to a Super Bowl appearance, said Monday the Chiefs should rest Mahomes until the playoffs.

"If it was me, I would sit him. I think it's most important to have him healthy for the playoff stretch, and ankles are tough," he said on "CBS Sports HQ." "I know he's done it in the playoffs before, kind of played through that and played really well with it, but those are playoff games.

"I look at this regular season, they've got a two-game lead in the AFC, they've got these two games back-to-back. Maybe you can get him back for Week 18 to get a little rhythm heading into the playoffs, but we'll see what the extent of what the injury is and how he heals on it the next couple of days.

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"I'd have no qualms about getting him some rest and making sure that he's healthy. In my opinion, you gotta have him as fresh as possible if you want to make a run towards their third Super Bowl."

Mahomes has dealt with ankle injuries in the past.

In 2023, he left a playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He played through a high-ankle sprain in Super Bowl LVII as the Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles.

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It’s unclear what the Chiefs will do at this point. They have a game on Saturday against the Houston Texans and then hit the road on Christmas Day to play the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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Bengals legend Boomer Esiason opens up about CBS Sports exit: 'I loved my time there'

Sat, 04 May 2024 14:42:20 -0400

Four-time Pro Bowler and Cincinnati Bengals Ring of Honor member Boomer Esiason is leaving CBS amid a shakeup at "The NFL Today."

Phil Simms also won't return to the long-running pregame show, CBS announced in April.

Matt Ryan and three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt will join "The NFL Today" crew. Last month, Ryan officially retired from the NFL. He last played in the league in 2022 and called games for CBS last season.

James Brown will return as the show's host, along with former Detroit Lions wide receiver Nate Burleson and Super Bowl-winning coach Bill Cowher. Although Esiason is leaving CBS Sports, he appears satisfied with the job he did and felt it was the right time to move on.

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"I was more than happy to step aside. I had my time there," Esiason, 63, said during an interview on "The Dan LeBatard Show."

"I loved that seat. I cherished that seat. I cherished talking to football fans every Sunday, but there comes a time when you have to find some time for yourself. And this was the right time."

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Esiason confirmed his CBS exit on WFAN, but he will remain at the radio station and work with his co-host Gregg Giannotti.

Esiason said he held back from saying anything on-air during the network's 2024 Super Bowl coverage, but he appears to also be looking forward to enjoying a better work-life balance.

"When Sean McManus, who did hire me back in 2002, announced his retirement as CBS Sports chairman, I felt like it was a natural thing," Esiason said. "I wanted to say something at the Super Bowl. I didn’t think it was appropriate. I knew that Phil (Simms) did not want to retire from this particular show. I was ready. Twenty-two years. I have not had a weekend in 40 years. … For me, it’s been a great run."

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Esiason said he enjoyed his time working at CBS and appears to be leaving on good terms.

"Not one person at CBS, not one boss, not one producer, not one director ever came to me and said, ‘Maybe you should back off with that kind of criticism,’" Esiason noted. "I’ve had a number of controversial topics that we had to deal with in the NFL over the last 20 years. So, I loved my time there. I have no ill will toward anybody."

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Ex-NFL star Matt Ryan: Falcons need to 'solidify the quarterback position,' Raheem Morris good hire

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 16:36:47 -0500

Former Atlanta Falcons star Matt Ryan said he wasn’t surprised the team decided to choose Raheem Morris as its next head coach and believes the team is just a quarterback away from reaching its potential.

Morris won the job over Bill Belichick, who was interviewed twice for the job. Morris served as the interim coach for the Falcons in 2019 before Arthur Smith was hired. He then served as the Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator from 2021 to 2023 before coming back to Atlanta.

Ryan, who talked to ӣ��Ƶ Digital in Las Vegas on behalf of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, had nothing but good things to say about Morris, especially from the time when the quarterback was with Atlanta.

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"I think there was consideration to what Bill could bring to the organization. But I’m not surprised that Raheem ended up back there. He was with us in Atlanta for six years. I always thought he was so good. He had coached all these different positions. He came in for us on the defensive side of the ball and switched to offense, came back to defense and became the interim head coach. So, I saw him in all of these different capacities. He was a guy that could coach anybody. He just knows how to get the best of the players.

Ryan said Morris also has an advantage in knowing the organization from his past experience with the Falcons.

"He also understands the organization," the one-time MVP said. "Knows the inner-workings of the organization, which I think is helpful. He’s got a great relationship with Arthur Blank. I think he’s a good fit in Atlanta. I really believe that. I think that’s a good football team down there that needs to solidify the quarterback position, which I think they’ll do this offseason, and I’m rooting for them."

The next step is the hardest part: trying to unlock the potential of their young players.

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The Falcons have budding stars on the offense with Bijan Robinson, Kyle Pitts and Drake London. But they have switched quarterbacks from Marcus Mariota to Desmond Ridder to Taylor Heinicke.

Ryan said the staff that Morris builds will be key. The team has named Zac Robinson its offensive coordinator.

"I think on the offensive side of the ball, you talk about the playmakers that they have on the outside: Drake London, Kyle Pitts, Bijan Robinson in the backfield," Ryan said. "A really good offensive line, an offensive line that played well this past year. I think it comes down to the staff he’s putting together and what Zac Robinson can do with those guys on the offensive side of the ball.

"I know Raheem is fired up about Zac, and he has said multiple times he reminds him of a young Kyle Shanahan, and Raheem was around Kyle during his time in Washington and knows what it looks like. He’s really close with Kyle. He’s got a good understanding of what that process should look like. He feels confident in Zac. Again, I think it comes down to finding the guy who can distribute the ball and make it happen with all those guys."

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Atlanta has been 7-10 for the last three seasons. The Falcons narrowly missed a playoff berth in 2023.

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Ex-NFL star Matt Ryan: Seems like Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce 'having a blast'

Sun, 11 Feb 2024 06:45:19 -0500

Swift will take center stage when she appears in Las Vegas Sunday

Ex-NFL star Matt Ryan says it 'made the most sense' to move on from football despite teams calling

Fri, 09 Feb 2024 06:15:18 -0500

NFL quarterbacks seemed to have a major problem with staying healthy throughout the 2023 season.

Star players like Joe Burrow, Deshaun Watson, Kirk Cousins, Justin Herbert, Daniel Jones and Aaron Rodgers were just some of the quarterbacks who missed all or part of the season.

Matt Ryan, 38, stepped off the football field to enter the CBS studio after playing the 2022 season with the Indianapolis Colts. He told ӣ��Ƶ Digital his agent was getting calls from teams with quarterback offers, but he elected to stay in the booth.

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"My agent was wearing me out this season getting calls from different places," the 2016 NFL MVP said. "To me, I was comfortable with what I was doing for CBS. I really enjoyed that part of it this fall. It’s right where my family’s at and family life and those kind of things.

"I think it made the most sense for me to kinda move on. There’s still that part in the back of your head that feels like you can go play, and I think there’s probably always something as a former athlete.

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"It never got too serious. For me, I really had a blast doing what I was doing this year."

Ryan talked to ӣ��Ƶ Digital from radio row at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. He was raising awareness about the 10th anniversary of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.

Raising money to cure the disease is something that hits close to home for Ryan. His friend Pete Frates suffered from the disease and died in 2019. Frates was credited with starting the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been raised in hopes of finding a cure.

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"Just out here today to continue to remind people that progress needs to be made in fighting ALS," Ryan said.

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NFL MVP shoots down Jets' speculation amid quarterback woes: 'No interest in doing that right now'

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 15:42:04 -0400

A brutal performance by Zach Wilson in the New York Jets’ Week 3 loss to the New England Patriots has many speculating about other possibilities for the quarterback position, but veteran quarterback Matt Ryan has crossed himself off the list.

During an appearance on "CBS Sports HQ" Monday, Ryan was asked if there was "any interest [in] talking to New York."

"No, not on my end," the one-time NFL MVP, who joined the network during the offseason as a studio and game analyst, said, adding that he’s "really enjoying" what he’s currently doing.

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"To clear it up – my agent is one of the best at what he does – Todd France is incredible. And he wouldn't be doing his job if he wasn't looking into certain situations. But he and I talked and I've got no interest in doing that right now. I'm enjoying what I'm doing,"

Ryan’s comments follow a report from FOX Sports NFL insider Jay Glazer over the weekend that linked him and Carson Wentz to the organization. According to the report, the two veterans had reached out to the Jets.

Ryan, 38, played 14 seasons in Atlanta, where he was selected to the Pro Bowl four times and in 2016 was named league MVP, the same season he led the Falcons to the Super Bowl.

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He was traded to the Indianapolis Colts in 2022 in exchange for a third-round draft pick, starting 12 games. He was released after finishing the season with 3,057 passing yards, 14 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

After losing Aaron Rodgers to a torn Achilles in his Week 1 debut, the Jets have turned to Wilson. But after back-to-back losses, questions about his future in New York have surrounded the organization.

"Right now, Zach is the best player in the – he’s who gives us the best chance to win," head coach Robert Saleh in response to the media grilling him over the team’s commitment to Wilson on Sunday night.

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Wilson completed 18 of 36 passes for 157 yards and no touchdowns. He was sacked three times, raising his total to eight sacks through three games.

Ex-Colts quarterback Matt Ryan describes last 18 months in NFL as a 's--- show'

Tue, 08 Aug 2023 17:01:53 -0400

Former NFL quarterback Matt Ryan hasn’t ruled out a return to football, but it would be safe to assume he may have ruled out a possible return to the Indianapolis Colts.

When the former Atlanta Falcons signal-caller announced in May he was stepping inside the broadcast booth as an analyst for CBS Sports this upcoming season, he made it clear in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, it was "not a retirement post."

He doubled down on that during an interview with The Athletic published this week.

"I’m staying in shape. I think it is kind of, ‘You know my number. You know where I’m at.’ If anything were to come up, you know, we’ll see," he told the outlet. "(CBS) is where my focus is at right now. But we’ll see how the season shakes out."

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But after recalling his time with the Colts, it seems unlikely Ryan would consider a return to Indianapolis.

"I mean, it was a s--- show, you know. It was a s--- show of 18 months basically is the best way to describe it," he said. "But I think everybody in our family handled it well and came out of it stronger and in a really good spot."

Ryan, 38, played 14 seasons in Atlanta, where he was selected to the Pro Bowl four times and in 2016 was named league MVP, the same season he led the Falcons to the Super Bowl.

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He was traded to the Colts in 2022 in exchange for a third-round draft pick, starting 12 games. He was released after finishing the season with 3,057 passing yards, 14 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

"The biggest thing that I took away from that situation is I wasn’t going to let one bad week ruin 14 years of awesome, of really positive, great experiences," Ryan told The Athletic.

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"You also come to realize the business side of it. I understand that there are difficult decisions that need to be made, and there’s a right or wrong way to do those kinds of things. Would I have liked some of it to be different? Yeah, but it wasn’t handled badly. It was just a situation that was difficult for all parties involved."

Ryan will enter the 2023 season in new territory again as he prepares to make appearances on CBS Sports as a game analyst for select games and provide commentary on "The NFL Today" and other network shows.

Matt Ryan looks ahead to broadcasting career, hints at desire to play in 2023: 'We'll see what happens'

Thu, 18 May 2023 17:12:38 -0400

Veteran quarterback Matt Ryan recently revealed he will take on a new job during the 2023 NFL season in television broadcasting.

The former longtime Atlanta Falcons quarterback will join CBS Sports as an analyst, but Ryan does not want anyone to think he has shut the door on his playing career.

During a recent appearance on SiriusXM's NFL Radio, Ryan reflected on his career in the NFL and expressed excitement about his opportunity to step into a broadcasting role.

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He also mentioned that "all the stars" would have to align for him to put a football uniform back on.

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"I don't know," Ryan said when asked what might prompt a return. "This situation, all the stars would have to [align]. I've just learned, at least during my experience in the 15 years I've played, to just not shut any doors."

The 38-year-old seems to be taking things one day at a time.

"That’s really the decision behind that. Like I said, I’m excited to kind of take this next step and to move forward," Ryan said. "But, at the same time, you never know what’s going to happen in this league. Anything can shake out, and so, we’ll see what happens."

After the Falcons' failed pursuit of Deshaun Watson last offseason, Ryan requested a trade from the franchise that drafted him in the first round in 2008.

Ryan was sent to the Colts in exchange for a third-round pick and had, by far, the worst season of his career in 2022. He was benched two different times by two different coaches. He also suffered a shoulder injury during the season.

When he was on the field, he struggled with turnovers as he played behind one of the worst offensive lines in the league.

Ryan also has major financial reasons to keep the door open to ensure he collects the $12 million in guaranteed money the Colts owe after releasing him.

Ryan added that his experience with a TV crew for its postseason coverage helped him land his new opportunity.

"I had the opportunity after the season to go up and get in the studio with the crew on ‘NFL Today,’ and I had a blast doing it," he said. "I really did. I enjoyed being up there with those guys, getting to talk ball beforehand, talk through the show, get on-air and talk a little bit. I really enjoyed that aspect of it," Ryan said.

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"The opportunity they presented me with for next season — where it's a combination of doing some things and getting in the studio and doing some work there, just to really get a feel for how all of this operates and to learn from so many of the professionals that they have there — it seemed like a good fit, and I'm excited about that."

Matt Ryan announces broadcasting career but clarifies he's not retiring from NFL

Mon, 15 May 2023 17:04:46 -0400

Veteran NFL quarterback Matt Ryan is stepping into the broadcast booth, but he’s not hanging up his cleats just yet.

CBS Sports announced Monday that the longtime Atlanta Falcons signal-caller will join the network as a studio and game analyst for the upcoming season.

"As one of the NFL’s marquee quarterbacks for the past 15 years, we’re thrilled to add Matt to our talented roster of NFL analysts," Howard Bryant, executive producer and executive vice president for CBS Sports, said in a statement.

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"He has played the game at the highest level, including winning an MVP award and taking his team to the Super Bowl, and will bring a fresh perspective to CBS Sports. We look forward to Matt sharing his knowledge, insight and opinions with our viewers and bolstering our NFL coverage."

Ryan, who was released by the Indianapolis Colts after one season, also made the announcement on Twitter but added that his new gig does not mean he’s done with his playing career.

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"Excited to join the @NFLonCBS family! Looking forward to breaking down the game this season," he said in a tweet. "P.S. - this is not a retirement post."

Ryan, 37, played 14 seasons in Atlanta where he was selected to the Pro Bowl four times and in 2016 was named league MVP, the same season he led the Falcons to the Super Bowl.

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Ryan remains a free agent but will make appearances on CBS Sports as a game analyst as well as provide commentary on the "The NFL Today" and other shows across all network platforms.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Matt Ryan, one-time NFL MVP, expected to be released by Colts: report

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 19:56:02 -0400

The Indianapolis Colts have reportedly informed veteran quarterback Matt Ryan he will be released after just one season with the organization, per NFL Network.

Ryan would have counted $35 million against the salary cap in 2023, and the Colts will be losing money with this move. While the move will give the Colts $17.2 million in cap savings, it will also represent a $18 million dead cap hit.

It was a tumultuous season all around for the Colts, who fired head coach Frank Reich mid-season and replaced him with first-time head coach Jeff Saturday in an interim role.

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With Stane Steichen aboard, the offensive-minded head coach is looking for some change after Ryan struggled to get anything going in Indy.

Ryan was the guy Reich entrusted to lead the Colts to the playoffs after they missed in 2021 following a Week 17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Carson Wentz was quarterbacking the team then, and he was traded to the Washington Commanders to make room for Ryan.

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In his 15th NFL season, Ryan went 4-7-1 as a starter, throwing for 3,057 yards, his lowest output since his second season with the Falcons in 2009. Ryan also threw 14 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He was second in the league in total turnovers with 18, behind Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen's 19.

The question now becomes whether Ryan hangs up his cleats after 15 years in the league.

Quarterback-needy teams are dwindling in the league after the Las Vegas Raiders (Jimmy Garoppolo), Carolina Panthers (Andy Dalton, No. 1 overall pick) and Falcons (Taylor Heinicke) all signed a signal-caller.

The 37-year-old Ryan won the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2008 followed by the 2016 MVP and Offensive Player of the Year Award. Ryan has also been named to four Pro Bowls and one All-Pro team, and he stands at seventh all-time in passing yards with 62,792.

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Ryan, a product of Boston College, was the third overall pick by Atlanta in the 2008 NFL Draft.

Colts bench QB Matt Ryan again, Super Bowl winner Nick Foles to start against Chargers

Wed, 21 Dec 2022 16:19:28 -0500

Last week, the Indianapolis Colts were on the wrong end of the largest comeback in NFL history. And this week, the team has decided to make its third quarterback change of their disappointing season.

Super Bowl LII MVP Nick Foles is set to take over for former NFL MVP Matt Ryan.

Interim head coach Jeff Saturday said the decision to bench Ryan for the second time this season was partially based on Ryan's performance in the second half of the unprecedented collapse in Week 15.

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"Just didn't feel like we made enough plays offensively," Saturday told reporters. "It's no secret. We haven't converted in the red zone. And ultimately you've gotta make plays in the NFL and we're not making nearly enough explosive plays."

The Colts (4-9-1) have dropped four straight contests and have three games remaining this season. Ryan was under center for the team's first seven games this year before he was benched in favor of Sam Ehlinger, a 2021 sixth-round draft selection.

COLTS' JIM IRSAY SAYS HEAD COACH JEFF SATURDAY IS ONE OF ‘MANY GREAT CANDIDATES OUT THERE'

Shortly after team owner Jim Irsay elected to hire Saturday, Ryan was reinstated as the Colts' starter.

Ryan had one of his better outings of the season in his first game with Saturday, completing 21 of his 28 passes for 222 yards. He led the Colts to a 25-20 comeback win over the Raiders.

This week's game will be Foles' first shot at the starting role this season.

"I think with my career path, if you always expect something, it's just going to throw you for a loop – especially here," Foles said. "You never know what's going to happen each week."

Throughout his career, Foles has always seemed prepared to step into a starting role.

The highlight of his career came in 2017 when he was thrust into the starting position after Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz suffered a season-ending injury. Foles quarterbacked the team to its first Super Bowl title in franchise history.

COLTS STAR'S SEASON LIKELY OVER AFTER SUFFERING INJURY IN LOSS TO VIKINGS: REPORT

Meanwhile, Ryan has certainly not experienced the career revitalization he was hoping for when he arrived in Indy.

He joined the Colts after an offseason trade with the Falcons. Indianapolis sent a third-round draft pick to Atlanta in exchange for the longtime starting quarterback's services.

The Colts have been searching for a quarterback to bring stability to the franchise ever since the early retirement of former No. 1 pick Andrew Luck prior to the start of the 2019 season.

Ryan believed he was joining a roster that was ready for a deep playoff run this year, however the Colts have been one of the worst offenses in the league. The veteran quarterback has been a large part of those issues and leads the NFL with his 13 interceptions.

"From a player perspective, it's hard," Saturday said. "And when you want to be performing at a level and it's not getting there, it's devastating for players. But here's the reality: We all come to that point. And you hate that. That's where it is.

"But again, Matt has no back down, man. Had Matt been the guy, he'd be out there fighting each and every day doing exactly what he's supposed to do."

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The Colts have had a turbulent season, from the firing of its offense coordinator and head coach Frank Reich to several quarterback changes.

The team sits in the third spot in the AFC South and will have to address a long list of issues with the roster during the offseason. The Colts play the Chargers on Dec. 26.

Vikings clinch NFC North after greatest comeback in NFL history

Sat, 17 Dec 2022 17:59:55 -0500

Minnesota Vikings fans need to close their eyes, take a deep breath and recover after the mix of emotions at U.S. Bank Stadium Sunday afternoon.

They just witnessed the greatest comeback in NFL history.

Down 33-0 at halftime to the Indianapolis Colts, the Vikings outscored the Colts 36-3 in the second half, forcing overtime, where Greg Joseph kicked a 40-yard field goal as time expired to win it, 39-36.

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How about that to clinch the NFC North at 11-3?

The Vikings were down eight points when they stopped Colts quarterback Matt Ryan’s sneak on 4th-and-1 on the Minnesota 36-yard line to get the ball back with under three minutes to play.

The very next play, Kirk Cousins dumped a screen to Dalvin Cook, and he turned on the jets. Cook ran 65 yards, fighting off a few tackles at the goal line to get into the end zone for a score with the chance to tie it.

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And the Vikings did just that, capping their comeback with a T.J. Hockenson two-point conversion, knotting the game at 36.

The Vikings got the ball first in overtime, but they couldn’t score a touchdown to end the game. Instead, they needed a stop with the Colts looking to salvage what looked to be their fifth win of the season.

But Ryan was blitzed heavily on 3rd-and-9, forcing a punt and giving the Vikings a chance to push downfield for the win.

Knowing a field goal was all that was needed, the Vikings got chunk plays, starting with K.J. Osborn for 15 yards. Then, Cousins dotted one to Adam Thielen for 21 yards, followed by Justin Jefferson’s 13-yard gain to set up Joseph’s game-winner.

When the ball went through the uprights, the sold-out crowd roared in excitement and disbelief as the Vikings completed the greatest comeback — 33 points — in NFL history.

For Ryan, this one likely hurt a more than his teammates. Not only is he the losing quarterback in the greatest comeback in history, but his Atlanta Falcons were also on the losing end of the worst defeat in Super Bowl history when Tom Brady and the New England Patriots were down 28-3 and won in overtime.

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But how did we even get here? The Vikings hurt themselves throughout the first half, including a blocked punt for a touchdown, a lost fumble that resulted in a Colts touchdown and two turnover-on-downs drives that Indianapolis took advantage of.

This was a tale of two halves, clearly, and the Vikings started the second half with a touchdown to Osborn on their second drive. They scored two more after that, one to C.J. Ham and the other to Jefferson to put the game within reach at 36-21.

An interception on their next drive seemed like a killer, but the Vikings never wavered. They forced the Colts into a three and out, getting the ball right back and capitalizing. This time, it was Adam Thielen finding the end zone to make it a one-score game.

The rest is NFL history.

COLTS' JIM IRSAY SAYS HEAD COACH JEFF SATURDAY IS ONE OF ‘MANY GREAT CANDIDATES OUT THERE’

After throwing for 425 yards last week in a loss to the Detroit Lions, Cousins threw for 460 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions while completing 34 of 54 pass attempts. His leading receiver was Osborn with 157 yards on 10 catches, while Jefferson finished with 123 yards on 12 receptions.

On the ground, Cook had 95 yards on 17 carries.

Ryan finished with 182 yards and one touchdown on 19 of 33 passing, while Zack Moss was the leading rusher with 81 yards on the day. Jonathan Taylor, the Colts’ All-Pro running back, left the game in the first quarter with an ankle injury. Michael Pittman Jr. had 10 catches for 60 yards.

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The Minnesota Miracle. The greatest comeback in NFL history. Crazy stuff happens in Minneapolis, and these Vikings fans are surely glad their team can cheer about it at the end of the day.

Cowboys embarrass Colts, tally eight touchdowns in blowout win

Mon, 05 Dec 2022 00:11:24 -0500

The Dallas Cowboys continue to show the NFL why they are a Super Bowl contender, as they took care of business on both sides of the ball against the Indianapolis Colts in a 54-19 win at home.

It was a complete onslaught by the Cowboys, who created five turnovers on the defensive side of the ball and totaled eight touchdowns, six of which with Dak Prescott and the offense out on the field.

Dallas outscored Indianapolis 33-6 in the second half, with all of those points coming in the fourth quarter for the Cowboys.

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It was a close game after Alec Pierce hauled in a pass from Matt Ryan to make it 21-19 (the two-point conversion failed) in the third quarter. But Dallas responded with its first touchdown of the half, as Michael Gallup caught his own fade from Prescott to make it 28-19 on his second score of the contest.

From there, Dallas would wreak havoc on Indy - who had no answers whatsoever.

DAK PRESCOTT REACTS TO PHOTO OF JERRY JONES AT INTEGRATION PROTEST IN LITTLE ROCK

First, it was Mo Alie-Cox catching a screen and fumbling on the very first play of the Colts’ next drive, resulting in a scoop-and-score for Malik Hooker, the Cowboys safety who was drafted 15th overall by the Colts in 2017.

Then, Ryan would throw his second interception of the game, this time by Daron Bland, which led Tony Pollard to bust out a 30-yard run for his second touchdown of the game, running up the score to 40-19.

But the Cowboys weren’t done. On the next drive, Ryan was picked off again by Bland.

Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy decided it was Ezekiel Elliott’s turn to score a touchdown, and he did so while celebrating in the Salvation Army pot.

NFL HALL OF FAMER TROY AIKMAN SLAMS COLTS DURING BROADCAST, CALLS THE OFFENSE ‘PRETTY DREADFUL’

And to make it four turnovers in a row by the Colts, Ryan was strip sacked by Osa Odighizuwa, with the Cowboys recovering. They almost ran it back for six more points until it was ruled the player was down by contact.

At that point, Cooper Rush got out on the field to relieve Prescott of his duties. Three plays later, they got those six pints, this time from rookie running back Malik Davis, who scored his first career touchdown on a 23-yard run to make it 54-19.

On all five of the Colts’ turnovers in this game, including Ryan’s first-half interception by Hooker, touchdowns were scored by the Cowboys on the ensuing drives. Talk about complementary football.

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On the stat sheet, Pollard and Elliott continue to set the tone for Dallas, totaling 91 and 77 yards respectively, with their touchdowns. There was also CeeDee Lamb catching the first touchdown of the game on his way to 71 yards on five catches.

For the Colts, Ryan is now the league leader in interceptions thrown, with 13 on the season. He threw for 233 yards and two touchdowns on 21 of 37 passing. On the ground, Jonathan Taylor totaled 82 yards on 21 carries, his longest being a 19-yarder.

As the Cowboys try to catch up to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East, they continue to pull away from the New York Giants and Washington Commanders, as well as the rest of the wild card pack currently in a playoff spot.

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They will face the Houston Texans next Sunday at home, while the Colts will head to their bye week and regroup before facing the Vikings in Minnesota on Dec. 18.

Colts' clock management comes under fire in loss to Steelers, sparks criticism toward Jeff Saturday

Mon, 28 Nov 2022 23:38:23 -0500

The Indianapolis Colts came under fire for the play-calling and decision-making at the end of their 24-17 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night.

The Colts had all three of their timeouts left under 2 minutes to play against the Steelers. After converting on fourth down, Matt Ryan took a first-down sack. On the next play, he would scramble for 14 yards and on third down the team decided to try another run play get the first down but they failed to get it. The team only used their first timeout after the Taylor run.

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Ryan then threw an incomplete pass toward Parris Campbell, despite the contact that could’ve warranted a penalty.

While the Colts had several miscues in the game and were down 16-3 at the half, NFL fans watching the end of the game piled on the strangeness of the last Colts drive.

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Saturday’s inexperience was a talking point when he took the job two weeks ago.

Ryan finished 22-for-34 with 199 passing yards and a touchdown pass to Pittman. Taylor led the team with 86 rushing yards. Jelani Woods had eight catches for 98 yards.

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Pittsburgh, who came into the game losers of three of their last four, improved 4-7 on the season while Indianapolis fell to 4-7-1.

Steelers nab road victory against Colts thanks to clutch Kenny Pickett drive

Mon, 28 Nov 2022 23:23:03 -0500

The Pittsburgh Steelers clawed their way to victory against the Indianapolis Colts on the road Monday night, 24-17, thanks to a go-ahead touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.

Kenny Pickett led the Steelers on an 11-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a Benny Snell touchdown and a successful two-point conversation attempt thanks to a pass to George Pickens. Pittsburgh took a seven-point lead with 9:44 left in the game and never looked back. Pickett had a 13-yard pass to Snell and a 17-yard pass to Pat Freiermuth to help set up the touchdown.

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The Steelers defense would hold off Matt Ryan’s late charge.

Pickett finished 20-for-28 with 174 passing yards. He was sacked three times. Snell rushed for 62 yards after he got most of the carries when Najee Harris left the game with an abdominal injury. Harris had 35 yards on the ground with a touchdown before he left.

Pickens led the Steelers with three catches for 57 yards. Diontae Johnson had five catches for 49 yards.

The Colts buried themselves early with a handful of crucial mistakes.

Ryan was intercepted by Steelers cornerback James Pierre on his second throw of the game. After that drive, Indianapolis punted twice and kicked a field goal. A field-goal attempt before was blocked.

CARDINALS' KYLER MURRAY GIVES EXPLICIT ANSWER TO SUM UP WOES

The Colts tried to get back into the game down 16-3.

Colts kick returner Dallis Flowers returned the kickoff 89 yards and four plays later Jonathan Taylor was in the end zone to cut the deficit to just six points. But on their next drive momentum was lost after a fumble on a bad handoff from Ryan to Taylor.

Indianapolis took the lead with 16 seconds left in the third quarter thanks to a pass from Ryan to Michael Pittman Jr. The defense would let up the go-ahead Steelers score on the next drive.

Ryan finished 22-for-34 with 199 passing yards and a touchdown pass to Pittman. Taylor led the team with 86 ruhsing yards. Jelani Woods had eight catches for 98 yards.

Indianapolis defensive back Kenny Moore II had 10 tackles and a pass defended in the game but he eventually walked back to the locker room with an injury.

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Pittsburgh, who came into the game losers of three of their last four, improved 4-7 on the season while Indianapolis fell to 4-7-1.

Eagles escape another upset as Jalen Hurts' late touchdown beats Colts

Sun, 20 Nov 2022 16:49:24 -0500

The Indianapolis Colts had control of the lead over the Philadelphia Eagles all game until late in the fourth quarter when Jalen Hurts’ seven-yard rush won it for them, 17-16, to avoid their second straight loss.

The Colts had enough time to get down the field and have a field goal win it at the buzzer. But the Eagles’ defense got it done, turning the Colts over on downs and Hurts knelt out the victory.

But it was hard for Hurts to do anything against this Indy team that has been rejuvenated it seems with Jeff Saturday as head coach. Even for their first points of the game, the Eagles kicked a field goal after needing 15 plays to go 54 yards, killing 7:08 off the clock, to make it a 7-3 ballgame.

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Indy got on the board early in this one, as Jonathan Taylor found the end zone on a one-yard rush on the opening drive of the ballgame. He’s been better of late, rushing for over 100 yards last week with a touchdown, and he had 84 yards on 22 carries against the Eagles.

What felt like a big turning point in the game, however, was when Yannick Ngakoue got to Hurts on the very first play of the second half and stripped him of the ball, which the Colts recovered. Though only a field goal came out of it, the 13-3 lead felt substantial because Philly was having trouble moving the ball as they normally have this season.

EAGLES ADD SUPER BOWL CHAMPION TO BOLSTER D-LINE EVEN MORE

With hindsight 20-20, though, the big turning point in the game was actually the missed 50-yard field goal by Chase McLaughlin in the third quarter that would’ve put the Colts up 16-3. Instead, the Eagles used the solid field position to go just five plays, capping a touchdown drive with Quez Watkins’ 22-yard score.

But there was more wild play in the fourth quarter, as the Colts fumbled on the ensuing drive just to see the Eagles do it three plays later. It was the team’s star offensive players, too, as Taylor and A.J. Brown were the culprits.

McLaughlin would later knock in a 37-yard field to make the Eagles have to score a touchdown, but Saturday likely wanted six points when he saw his Colts get down to the Eagles’ five-yard line for first and goal. But the Eagles stuffed Taylor, had great coverage for a Ryan incompletion, and then sacked Ryan for a loss of 14 yards.

FRITZ POLLARD ALLIANCE OPENS INQUIRY INTO COLTS' JEFF SATURDAY HIRE

The Colts had their opportunities, but the Eagles weren’t looking to start their first losing streak of the season after being upset by the Washington Commanders last week.

For the Eagles, Hurts finished with 190 yards through the air on 18 of 25, while rushing for 86 yards on 16 carries. DeVonta Smith was his favorite target, hauling in six of his nine targets for 78 yards. Brown had five catches for 60 yards as well.

Ryan would go 23 of 32 for 213 yards but no touchdowns thrown. Michael Pittman Jr. gained 75 yards on six catches, while Parris Campbell had 67 yards on five receptions.

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Escaping this one, the Eagles head back home next week to face the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night. Saturday and his Colts will look to get the losing taste out of their mouths next Monday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Colts' Jeff Saturday transfers fantasy football ownership to ex-NFL star

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 19:24:19 -0500

Jeff Saturday, the Indianapolis Colts’ interim head coach, was celebrating his first career win with his team on Sunday. It’s a stark difference from the wins he’s been used to this season…in fantasy football.

During the CBS broadcast of the Colts and Las Vegas Raiders, sideline reporter Melanie Collins revealed that Saturday had to give up his fantasy football team when he accepted the job from Colts owner Jim Irsay.

It was a league with former Broncos and Colts, including Peyton Manning, so Eric Decker is now the general manager of Saturday’s bunch.

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Collins added that Decker has "a lot of work to do with his roster."

While Decker dealt with that, Saturday was on the sidelines making sure that fantasy owners loved seeing Jonathan Taylor going to work in the 25-20 victory over the Raiders.

Taylor, who has been quiet this season after an insane 2021 campaign, broke out for 147 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown to lead the way on the ground for Indy.

TOM BRADY TALKS JEFF SATURDAY HIRE, ASKED WHETHER HE COULD ‘WALK IN AND COACH A TEAM TOMORROW’

Saturday also pulled a fast one on others fantasy owners who might have had Sam Ehlinger as their starting quarterback for the week.

While Ehlinger was penciled in as the starter in practice throughout the week, Saturday had veteran Matt Ryan under center, reassuming that role since ex-head coach benched him for Ehlinger.

COLTS OWNER JIM IRSAY RESPONDS TO CRITICS WHO BLASTED HIS JEFF SATURDAY HIRE

Ryan looked much better in his return, going 21 of 28 for 222 yards and a passing touchdown to Parris Campbell (seven catches, 76 yards).

The Colts’ defense had some trouble with Davante Adams, who went nine for 126 with a touchdown. But they were able to keeping him from catching a ball on fourth down at the end of the game to ice Saturday’s first victory as a head coach.

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Nothing beats that sort of excitement, so it’s safe to say Saturday is perfectly fine handing things over to Decker the rest of the way.

Colts' Jeff Saturday picks up first win after week of scrutiny, old tweet on 'horrible' Raiders goes viral

Sun, 13 Nov 2022 20:14:18 -0500

Jeff Saturday’s head-coaching career with the Indianapolis Colts started off great as he guided the team to a 25-20 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.

Saturday’s first order of business was to reinstall Matt Ryan as the starting quarterback, and the veteran didn’t disappoint. Ryan was 21 for 28 with 222 passing yards and a touchdown pass. He also broke off a 39-yard run.

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The Colts’ offense was buoyed by Jonathan Taylor’s 147 rushing yards. He had a 66-yard touchdown run in the game. Parris Campbell led the way receiving with seven catches for 76 yards.

Indianapolis allowed 309 yards and 18 first downs but managed to snap their three-game losing streak.

Saturday, who was hired from ESPN to replace Frank Reich, immediately faced scrutiny coming into the job. It didn’t exactly ease any pressure when a tweet of his from Oct. 30 when viral.

COLTS HIRING JEFF SATURDAY AS INTERIM COACH IS A 'DISGRACE TO THE COACHING PROFESSION,' HALL OF FAMER SAYS

"Raiders look horrible," he wrote as an analyst.

But after the victory, the NFL world gave Saturday his props.

The Raiders, who have offensive firepower with Derek Carr and Davante Adams, have sputtered in recent weeks. Carr had two touchdown passes in the loss on Sunday and running back Josh Jacobs had one touchdown on the ground, but the team couldn’t stop Indianapolis.

Carr was 24 for 38 with 248 passing yards. Jacobs ran for 78 yards, and Adams led the team with nine catches for 126 yards and a touchdown. Foster Moreau had three catches for 43 yards and another touchdown.

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Las Vegas fell to 2-7 on the year. Indianapolis moved to 4-5-1.

Colts' Matt Ryan shocked by benching, says he's 'disappointed'

Wed, 26 Oct 2022 18:07:51 -0400

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Matt Ryan spoke during a locker-room session with reporters just two days after the team said he would lose his starting role and be replaced by Sam Ehlinger.

Ryan said he was somewhat "shocked" by the decision and was personally "disappointed."

Head coach Frank Reich announced Monday that the veteran quarterback would sit on the bench for the remainder of the season behind former Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger following the Indianapolis Colts’ 19-0 loss to the Tennessee Titans.

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Ehlinger was taken in the sixth round of last year's draft. He will get his first career start in the NFL start on Sunday against the Washington Commanders.

The usual durable Ryan suffered a grade 2 shoulder sprain, Reich told reporters.

Over his 14 years as a starter with the Atlanta Falcons Ryan only missed three games due to injury, with two of those missed starts coming during his second year in the league.

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Reich said veteran quarterback Nick Foles will back up Ehlinger. Reich also made it clear that even when Ryan has recovered from the injury, he will not return as the team's starter this year.

"Right now, the move is for Sam to be the starter for the rest of the season," the coach noted.

Ryan joined the Colts after an offseason trade with the Falcons. Indianapolis sent a third-round draft pick to Atlanta in exchange for the longtime starting quarterback's services.

The Colts have been searching for a quarterback to bring stability to the franchise ever since the early retirement of former No. 1 pick Andrew Luck prior to the start of the 2019 season.

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In 2019, quarterback Jacoby Brissett primarily handled the Colts' starting duties after Scott Tolzien was benched.

The next season, the Colts signed free-agent veteran quarterback Philips Rivers to a one-year contract. Rivers led the team to the playoffs in 2020 but lost in the wild-card round. Carson Wentz became the team's starter in 2021 but was traded to the Washington Commanders prior to the start of the 2022 season.

Ryan was named the NFL MVP in 2016 and is a four-time Pro Bower. He led the Falcons to a Super Bowl appearance in the 2016-2017 season.

So far this season, Ryan has thrown for 2,008 yards with nine touchdowns. He leads the NFL with nine interceptions.

Ehlinger enjoyed a rather notable preseason in which he completed 24-of-29 passes for 289 yards and four touchdowns. He did not throw an interception during the preseason.

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Ryan said he is not seeking a trade.

Colts bench Matt Ryan for second-year quarterback Sam Ehlinger: 'We think he’s ready'

Mon, 24 Oct 2022 18:13:24 -0400

Veteran quarterback Matt Ryan will be benched the remainder of the season for second-year signal caller Sam Ehlinger, head coach Frank Reich announced Monday following the Indianapolis Colts’ 19-0 loss to the Tennessee Titans.

Ehlinger, the 2021 sixth round draft pick out of Texas, will get his first NFL start when he starts for the Colts on Sunday against the Washington Commanders.

"Right now, the move is for Sam to be the starter the rest of the season," Reich told reporters Monday. "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."

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Reich explained that Ryan suffered a Grade 2 shoulder separation but that the switch would’ve happened regardless of the injury.

"The shoulder injury is real, but this move was going to be made either way."

Reich also noted that the decision to bench the 15-year veteran did not come as a result of Sunday’s game.

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"This is another point that need to be made crystal clear, and I told this to Matt — we did not hold up our end of the bargain here, right. I mean, you came here, and we promised you one of the top NFL rushing games, and we promised you great protection, and we haven't really as an offense delivered on that, and that starts with me," he explained.

"This was a decision made based off watching the tape on him, seeing he's been productive in play-action, we can provide him a great running game, give him good protection — he's older, so doesn't run around a lot, but we can give him good protection. And as an offense, I think we're making strides to that, but we're not there yet."

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Through Week 7, Ryan leads the league in interceptions thrown (9) and fumbles (11). The Colts offense has also allowed 59 hits and 24 sacks — tying the Cincinnati Bengals for the most allowed this season.

Ryan will not practice this week due to injury, Nick Foles will serve as backup on Sunday against Washington.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Colts complete comeback win over Jaguars after Alec Pierce's last-second touchdown

Sun, 16 Oct 2022 18:47:52 -0400

Indianapolis Colts coach Frank Reich trusted Matt Ryan to make the right calls Sunday.

In the waning moments, the 15-year veteran delivered again.

Ryan read Jacksonville’s defense, relied on his instincts and then lobbed a 32-yard touchdown pass to rookie receiver Alec Pierce, who caught it just over the hands of a defender with 17 seconds left to give the Colts a 34-27 victory.

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"Alec is so good on those kinds of routes and I think in that situation throwing the ball past the sticks and taking a shot, you can’t play scared," Ryan said. "I thought it was a great call, a great route and I wanted to take a chance there."

His perfect throw, despite taking a hit as he released the ball, capped a memorable day with a victory that may finally get the Colts’ offense righted.

Ryan was 42 of 58 for 389 yards with three touchdowns, no sacks and no turnovers. He broke the franchise’s single game record for completions and moved into seventh on the NFL’s career passing list.

Dan Marino has 61,361 yards. Ryan now has 61,499 yards and 45 career game-winning drives. He's also fifth all-time with 30 career games of 350 or more yards passing.

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But Ryan also knew what mattered most. Indy (3-2-1) snapped a two-game skid against its AFC South rival and improved to 1-2-1 in division play. Plus, Indy ended a touchdown drought that stretched to Week 4 and topped the 20-point mark for the first time in eight games.

"Matt was hot," Reich said. "So I slipped in a run every now and then, but I didn’t want to take it out of Matt’s hands."

Jacksonville (2-4) has lost three straight despite gashing Indy’s usually stout rushing defense for 243 yards and big play after big play.

The Jags led the entire first half, extended the margin to 21-13 just five plays into the second half and responded with a 10-minute, 18-play drive after Indy had finally taken a 26-21 lead on Ryan’s TD pass to Jelani Woods early in the fourth quarter.

Trevor Lawrence responded with a 4-yard scoring pass to Christian Kirk for 27-26 lead with 2:44 to go. A 2-point conversion pass failed.

Lawrence was 20 of 22 with 163 yards and one score while running for two TDs.

But the Jags left too much time for the Colts, who had already moved into field-goal position and were facing third-and-3 when Ryan took a shot on Pierce.

There was nothing Shaquill Griffin could do to stop it.

"I played inside like I usually do, they kind of threw it over the shoulder, and they’d been calling so many pass interference (penalties) every time we were hand fighting," Griffin said. "He was pushing, and I’m pulling and ended up tripping over his feet. Stuff like that is going to happen, so, yeah, that one hurt."

STAT PACK

Jaguars: The Jags had 150 yards rushing in the first half and finished with 243 against a defense allowing just 96.6 yards per game. ... Lawrence was sacked four times after being sacked only six times in the first five games. ... Travis Etienne Jr. had 10 carries for 86 yards including a career best 48-yard run early. ... JaMycal Hasty scored on a 61-yard run on his second carry of the season.

Colts: Deon Jackson had 12 carries for 42 yards and 10 catches for 79 yards. ... Parris Campbell caught seven passes for 57 yards and a 4-yard TD with 2:06 left in the first half that ended the drought at 110 minutes, 20 seconds. ... Michael Pittman Jr. had 134 yards on a career-high 13 catches.

INJURY REPORT

Jaguars: The Jags only significant injury appeared to be WR Jamal Agnew, who left the game in the first half with an injured knee.

Colts: Punt returner Keke Coutee had the game's scariest moment when he took a hard shot and remained on the ground as players from both teams took a knee. Eventually, he got up and walked straight to the locker room where he was diagnosed with a concussion. Jackson helped replace injured RBs Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines before leaving late with an injured quad.

HE SAID IT

"I remember growing up he was like slinging it and the first time I met him, he said ‘No matter what, just keep slinging it,’" Ryan said, referring to Marino. "Any time you're mentioned in the same breath as Dan, it’s pretty cool. I'm proud of that."

UP NEXT

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Jaguars: Host the New York Giants next Sunday.

Colts: Head to Tennessee next Sunday for the fifth of six division games.

Colts rule out star offensive player vs. Broncos

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 14:56:49 -0400

Jonathan Taylor, the Indianapolis Colts star running back, has been ruled out for Thursday night’s game against the Denver Broncos.

Taylor suffered a badly twisted ankle during the team’s loss against the Tennessee Titans, and with a quick turnaround this week, the Colts don’t want to test it.

Backup Nyheim Hines will likely see his snap count increase this week, while the Colts also have second year running back Deon Jackson on the depth chart.

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Taylor did mention seeing some improvement this week since he sustained the injury, and that he was working hard to rehab it in order to play on Thursday. He went into the week planning to do so.

"I definitely do plan to play," he said via ESPN, "but if you can’t go, you can’t go. That’s why you … have to get as much treatment as you can."

Taylor was also wearing a boot on his right leg as he watched Tuesday’s practice.

Head coach Frank Reich noted that Taylor isn’t at risk for a more serious injury, saying, "That’s not a concern at this point." But erring on the side of caution, Reich and his staff don’t want to test those waters.

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It hasn’t been the start Taylor might have liked in 2022, though his numbers are the furthest thing from pedestrian. But when you lead the league in multiple rushing categories a season ago, including yards (1,811), carries (332) and yards per game (106.5), the bar is set higher.

Taylor is sixth in total rushing yards in the first four weeks of the season, totaling 328 on 81 attempts. But the second-round pick of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Wisconsin has averaged at least 5 yards per carry in his first two seasons — he’s at 4 per carry right now.

Taylor has also found the end zone just once in four games, which is uncharacteristic. But that’s not all on him, as the Colts’ offense has been slow to take off this season. They are currently 19th in the league in total yards per game (339.8), and in Taylor’s department, they are 27th in rushing yards per game (87.8).

Teams know that Reich wants to set the tone on offense with the run game, so there has been a greater emphasis on stopping Taylor. The Titans did just that last week when he had just 42 yards on 20 carries.

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After totaling 161 yards on 31 attempts with a touchdown in Week 1 against the Houston Texans, the highest that Taylor has gotten in terms of yards was 71 on 21 touches in Week 3 against the Kansas City Chiefs, a Colts upset to collect their first win of the season.

Hines hasn’t gotten off to the best of starts either for the Colts, as he has just 11 rushing yards on eight attempts. But, with Taylor the workhorse in the backfield, Hines’ role has usually been as a pass-catcher.

New quarterback Matt Ryan has found him 17 times so far this season for 113 yards. Hines hasn’t reached the end zone yet.

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Reich’s offense will need to get creative against a Broncos team that is coming off a loss to the Las Vegas Raiders this past week. The Colts are 1-2-1 on the season while the Broncos moved to 2-2.

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