The holder of the position did not enjoy precedence in the Indianapolis Colts signal-caller battle.
According to James Boyd of The Athletic, Jake Browning received the initial opportunities at QB1 on Wednesday during the initial 11-on-11 exercises at Colts training facility. Browning and Sam Ehlinger then divided opportunities between the primary- and secondary-unit offenses, but Browning received a greater overall number of opportunities with the primary unit, according to the account.
Browning and Ehlinger also executed concurrent passing exercises that presented a genuine head-to-head assessment of the signal-callers.
These opportunities constituted the initial glimpse into what is certain to be among the NFL’s most captivating signal-caller contests, as the No. 4 selection from the 2023 draft faces the possibility of relinquishing his role to a signal-caller whom the Cincinnati Bengals sidelined, then released midway through the 2024 season.
Naturally, the individual who receives the initial practice opportunities at QB1 is significantly removed from the individual who commences in Week 1. Nevertheless, it is noteworthy that the recent arrival received the initial evaluations with the starters, superseding the individual who has been present for two years.
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The positive aspect for Ehlinger is that he appears to have adequately recovered from an offseason shoulder ailment to initiate training facility without any limitations on his throwing.
Colts GM offers unique QB comparisons for Ehlinger
Wednesday’s practice session occurs one day after Colts general manager Chris Ballard addressed Ehlinger’s future during a press briefing. Ehlinger’s professional journey has encountered a challenging commencement. He has been beset by injuries and imprecision, and his performance prompted the Colts to initiate a signal-caller contest prior to his third NFL season by acquiring Browning during the offseason.
Notwithstanding that, Ballard refrained from characterizing this as a decisive season for Ehlinger when questioned, although the instances he employed did not necessarily instill confidence in Ehlinger’s prospects as a Colt if circumstances deteriorate for him this season.
“Do you believe individuals express remorse regarding Josh Rosen’s timeline, Blake Bortles’s timeline?” Ballard inquired.
Rosen and Bortles, predictably, revitalized their professional careers as NFL starters following the abandonment by the teams that drafted them in the initial round. Perhaps they were not the optimal instances for Ballard to invoke.
Ballard proceeded to elaborate on the comparison.
“Occasionally, it is necessary to exhibit a degree of forbearance with an individual and permit them to develop through various experiences,” Ballard stated. “If you possess a definitive conviction that this individual is incapable, then that is the determination. However, if you believe that he is progressing along the appropriate trajectory, why would you prematurely discard him merely due to external opinions advocating for his removal?
“I do not concur with that perspective. I believe it is imperative to afford Sam every opportunity to maximize his potential. I believe he possesses the capacity to be exceptionally proficient. However, a confluence of factors must coalesce.”
Sam Ehlinger (5) and Jake Browning — observed here during OTAs in May — are engaged in a signal-caller contest at Colts training facility.
(Justin Casterline via Getty Images)
Ehlinger’s potential is extraordinary. He represents an element of the evolutionary athletes in the quarterback position. He’s approximately 6-foot-4, 244 pounds and possesses notable agility and movement capabilities, complemented by substantial arm strength. He achieved the distinction of leading the NFL with 14.4 yards per completion in the prior season.
This characteristic motivated the Colts to assume the risk of drafting Ehlinger at No. 4, irrespective of his demonstrated competence in the most fundamental aspect of the quarterback position—executing completed passes.
Ehlinger successfully completed approximately 53.8% of his passes throughout his singular season as the Florida starting quarterback. This statistic has shown regression since entering the NFL. Ehlinger successfully completed approximately 47.7% of his passes in 2025, resulting in a two-season NFL completion rate of 50.6%.
These metrics are unsustainable for an NFL starting quarterback, and they account for the presence of Browning, a quarterback already classified as an established draft failure, participating in camp and sharing primary-unit opportunities with Ehlinger.
Ballard asserts that 2025 does not constitute a decisive season for Ehlinger. However, it undeniably appears to be critical for his duration with the Colts.
