The Indianapolis Colts were one of many teams that saw the importance of the backup quarterback position in 2023. With rookie franchise quarterback Anthony Richardson going down for the season in week five, the Colts turned to Gardner Minshew. All Minshew did was lead the team to a winning record and one game away from winning the division.
Elsewhere around the league you saw the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Joe Burrow and Kirk Cousins suffer a similar fate. In what seemed like a quarterback wasteland, 2023 proved that having a capable backup is a necessity more than a luxury. With the possibility of Minshew hitting the free agency market, it is time once again for the Colts to address the position.
Gardner Minshew
Perhaps the easiest avenue would be resigning Minshew. Originally brought in on a one year deal, Minshew began 2023 with a training camp battle with Richardson before settling in as the back up. With a plethora of injuries to Richardson, Minshew played in all 17 games in 2023 and started 13 of them. He finished the year with 3,305 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions. The Colts would finish with a record of 9-6 in games where Minshew played the majority of the game.
Some around the league believe Minshew may look to seek a starting job. Even if he were to remain a backup he would be one of the premier backups in the league. Coming off of a one year deal worth $3.5 million, that number will significantly grow wherever he lands. According to Spotrac, the Colts have the fifth most cap space in the league, meaning they would have the ability to retain Minshew if both sides could come to an agreement.
Jacoby Brissett
Another familiar face, Jacoby Brissett is also set to hit free agency this off-season. Since his tenure in Indianapolis, Brissett has held backup roles with the Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns and Washington Commanders. The most playing time Brissett saw during that span was in 2022 as a member of the Browns. With Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson serving an 11 game suspension, Brissett led the team to a 4-7 record. He finished the year with 2,608 yards and 14 total touchdowns.
Most recently Brissett was the backup to Sam Howell in Washington. In limited action this season he finished the year with 224 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions. He also finished the year with a 78.1 completion percentage, and while a small sample size this may be enough to earn him another chance as a backup in the NFL.