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Mitch Trubisky as the next Colts starting quarterback?  No, this isn’t a way too early attempt at an April Fool’s joke from a scarred lifelong Bears fan.  This apparently has actual legs, at least from a national perspective, amongst some of the NFL’s biggest newsmakers.  Could it be show fodder to fill the dead time between the end of the NFL season to the start of free agency?  Of course.  But for guys like Field Yates and Adam Schefter it carries some actual weight that it could actually become a reality.  Would that be an upgrade over Carson Wentz or yet another Band-Aid for the Colts at the most important position in sports?

In a recent article, ESPN’s Field Yates named starting quarterback projections for all 32 teams heading into 2022 and shockingly had Carson Wentz heading to the Washington Commanders and Mitch Trubisky as the Colts starter. His basic premise was that the Colts are likely to move off of Wentz and Trubisky, with a lightened workload and riding the play of Jonathan Taylor and the defense, could be a competent starter that wouldn’t cost much money.

 

I’m not a Mitch Trubisky hater.  I screamed in disbelief when then Bears GM Ryan Pace traded up one spot in the 2017 NFL Draft to move up and draft him over the likes of Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson.  I didn’t enjoy watching him play for the team I grew up rooting for and struggle to get any semblance of consistency on offense.  I chalk up his struggles to the fact that he just isn’t very good and the fact that Matt Nagy tried his damndest to make Trubisky fit his style of offense and not adapt to his strengths.  Again, I’m not a hater.  I think he’s a great kid, he always took the heat from reporters after poor outings and losses and I think he deserves another chance in the league as a potential starter.  But I don’t think that opportunity needs to be with the Indianapolis Colts.

The Trubisky to Indy narrative didn’t stop with Field Yates.  At Peter King’s charity event at Sun King Brewery ESPN’s Adam Schefter was asked by a fan in attendance who he thought would be the Colts starter next season and his answer was Trubisky as well, much to the surprise of the crowd.

 

I’m already imagining the real possibility that in a three-year span the Indianapolis Colts will have gone from Philip Rivers to Carson Wentz to Mitch Trubisky at starting quarterback.  That’s going in the exact opposite direction you want if you’re a franchise with actual Super Bowl aspirations, let alone winning the AFC South aspirations.  There is no way you could sell fans on the idea of an “all chips in” mentality and then have Mitch Trubisky come running out of the home tunnel when you open your season.

There is already pressure on Frank Reich and Chris Ballard to start living up to the contract extensions they were gifted ahead of last season so I can’t imagine even they want to stake their jobs on the play of Mitch Trubisky. It sure seemed like the Colts are all but certain to move off of Wentz.  They’ve had every opportunity to give a vote of confidence and have refused to do so.  Head coach Frank Reich joined Kevin & Query on Thursday and used terms like “if” and mentioned the possibility that it could be someone else under center.

Is that person Mitch Trubisky?  It’s possible.  But it’s not a scenario I believe would benefit either the player or the team. You think screening calls about Carson Wentz’s play is chaotic?  I can’t even imagine what Mondays will be like if we have to debate Mitch Trubisky’s play or Sam Ehlinger potentially filling in if he struggles.  Lord help me, I don’t need to start drinking at 7:02 A.M.

The clock is ticking on a decision for Carson Wentz and it’ll be a fascinating couple of weeks until a decision is ultimately made.  Regardless of which way the Colts decide to go they definitely need to find an actual answer at quarterback.  Sadly, I don’t think Wentz or Trubisky are those answers.

For more Colts talk, be sure to listen to Kevin & Query every weekday morning from 7-10 on 93.5 & 107.5 The Fan.  Our full interview with Frank Reich is available at the link below.

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