Is Matt Ryan finished? Scouts claim Colts QB's "arm is shot"
Matt Ryan was traded by the Atlanta Falcons after 14 seasons to the Indianapolis Colts in hopes of reviving his career. However, seven weeks into the 2022-2023 NFL season, it might be over for the quarterback. According to senior NFL reporter Albert Breer, many scouts around the league feel Ryan's arm is done.
Breer said:
"I can say, after asking around, that there are scouts who think Matt Ryan’s arm is shot. And it definitely looks like he has to work harder to get the ball where he wants it to go. That said, the Colts’ quarterback is fighting his tail off."
In seven starts in the 2022-2023 season for the Colts, the 2016 MVP has thrown for 2,008 yards, nine touchdowns, and nine interceptions. The nine interceptions lead the NFL this season. He threw two in the Colts Week 7 loss to the Tennessee Titans. On top of that, the former Falcons star has lost his starting job to Sam Ehlinger for the Colts.
Breer tweeted:
It's a stunner, for sure, that the Colts are turning to Sam Ehlinger at quarterback. But there was some writing on the wall—teams don't haphazardly move young QBs over experienced vets on the depth chart.
Indy did that a few weeks back, in putting Ehlinger ahead of Nick Foles.
Right now, what does Ehlinger replacing Ryan mean for the future of Ryan in the NFL moving forward?
Has Matt Ryan played his final down in the NFL?
The 37-year-old has been one of the more durable quarterbacks over the last decade and a half. The former Boston College star has missed only three starts in his 14 and a half seasons in the NFL. As of now, he's started 229 games at quarterback between the Falcons and Colts.
Since joining the league in the 2008 - 2009 season, his 229 games started are second only to Tom Brady for the most among active quarterbacks.
If the former third overall pick doesn't start again in the NFL, he's had an impressive career. Ryan ranks fifth in NFL history in passes completed (5,445) and passing attempts (8,300). His 61,743 career yards are the seventh-best in NFL history, while his 376 touchdowns are good for ninth all-time.
His contract, and not Ryan's shoulder injury, is why Colts head coach Frank Reich benched the All-Pro quarterback.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport tweeted:
When the trade went down, Matt Ryan received a contract adjustment. Now, $24.7M this year is fully guaranteed and $12M was fully guaranteed in 2023, plus an additional $17.2M that is guaranteed for injury becomes fully guaranteed 3rd day of 2023 league year. twitter.com/rapsheet/statu…
Something that was buried in the benching of the 2008 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year was that he was suffering from a shoulder. All in all, his benching was going to happen, healthy or not.
Senior NFL writer Armando Salguero tweeted:
Matt Ryan has shoulder injury but he was going to be benched regardless. twitter.com/colts/status/1…
Let's see how the Colts fare without Matt Ryan starting for the rest of the 2022-2023 season.
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