The Tennessee Titans have a more stable quarterback situation than the Indianapolis Colts heading into Week 17. Raise your hand if you thought that would've been the case prior to the start of the season.
Titans vs. Colts 2016 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch online
Shockingly, the Colts’ quarterback situation is less stable than the Titans’ heading into the last game of the season.
To be fair, the 3-12 Titans have had a predictably disastrous campaign -- and even fired their coach, Ken Whisenhunt, in early November. But at least their starting quarterback Sunday, Zach Mettenberger, has been with the organization for two seasons (he's filling in for rookie Marcus Mariota, who's been shut down with a knee injury). The Colts, meanwhile, may start a quarterback who hasn't been with the team for one week.
Indianapolis addressed its glaring hole on the QB depth chart Wednesday, signing journeymen Josh Freeman and Ryan Lindley. In five NFL seasons, three and a half of which were spent as a starter with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Freeman threw for 13,724 yards with 80 touchdowns and 67 interceptions. The 2009 first-round pick hasn't played a game in the NFL since 2013.
Lindley, 26, has played in the league more recently, though he hasn't enjoyed any success. In six NFL starts with the Arizona Cardinals, Lindley amassed a record of 1-5. He's thrown for 1,314 yards with two TDs and 11 interceptions in nine games. The New England Patriots signed Lindley over the summer, but released him prior to the end of training camp.
If Freeman or Lindley don't get the nod, Stephen Morris could step under center for the first time in his NFL career. He was signed off the Philadelphia Eagles' practice squad Dec. 24.
The Colts will play their fourth different quarterback of the season Sunday, because Andrew Luck, Matt Hasselbeck and Charlie Whitehurst have all been sidelined. Luck has missed the last two months with a lacerated kidney and was officially ruled out of this week's divisional dual on Wednesday.
Indianapolis struggled this season when Luck was in there, going 2-5 in his seven starts. Luck only completed 58.3 percent of his passes and threw 12 interceptions -- a far cry from his production in 2014, when he led the league with 40 touchdown passes.
When Hasselbeck first took the reins in early October, the Colts began to turn their season around, winning his first four starts. But that run ended abruptly, as Indy dropped three of Hasselbeck’s last four starts. The 40-year-old posted a 69.2 rating and only threw one touchdown pass in those contests.
Whitehurst relieved Hasselbeck for the second consecutive week Sunday in Miami when Hasselbeck hurt his throwing shoulder, but Whitehurst was placed on the injured reserve list Monday with an injured hamstring. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how a former bona fide playoff team winds up with the possibility of Morris starting for them in the final game of the year.
The Colts’ postseason hopes are still technically alive, though they need a nine-team parlay to make it. At this point, they’re just playing out the string, which is exactly what you would expect from a team with a quarterback situation that’s this uncertain.
How to Watch
When: 1 p.m. ET
Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
TV: CBS
Commentators: Andrew Catalon, Steve Tasker, Steve Beuerlein
Online: NFL Game Pass
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