5 backup quarterback pivots for Detroit Lions not named Teddy Bridgewater

2. Sam Ehlinger (Indianapolis Colts)

Ehlinger started three games for the Colts last season, with the expected results on a bad team (63.4 percent completion rate, 76.1 passer rating, three touchdowns, three interceptions, sacked 14 times). He was simply not fully ready to play, but there weren't any better options with how badly Matt Ryan and Nick Foles had played. If not for Jeff Saturday coming in as head coach and inexplicably going back to Ryan, there would have been a case for Ehlinger to start the rest of a lost season.

That said, Ehlinger completed more than 64 percent of his passes in three of his four total appearances last year, with a passer rating over 97 in two games. A rough outing against the New England Patriots (15-for-29, 103 yards, one interception, 45.6 passer rating, nine sacks taken) skewed things strongly negative. His sample of work was also smaller than it should have been.

Ehlinger came into the NFL with raw tools and prowess as a runner. The Colts are leaning into Anthony Richardson as their quarterback of the future. Gardner Minshew followed Shane Steichen to Indianapolis from Philadelphia to be Richardson's backup and mentor. Carrying three quarterbacks on the final 53 coming out of camp is possible, and Ehlinger forced their hand to do so last year with a strong showing in the preseason.

Ehlinger may be cut, or the Colts may look to trade him for whatever they can. In any case, the Lions should have an eye on him as a pivot option to fill the No. 2 spot behind Goff.