Bold headline-level summary: The Colts explored veteran options, but Sam Ehlinger chose to stay with the Denver Broncos’ practice squad, even after the team’s pursuit of a starter intensified following Daniel Jones’s season-ending injury. Here’s a clear, beginner-friendly rewrite that preserves all key facts and timelines, with added context and inviting questions for discussion.
The Indianapolis Colts reached out to the agent of former quarterback Sam Ehlinger before finalizing a contract with veteran Philip Rivers on Wednesday, according to Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post. Ehlinger ultimately decided to remain with the Broncos on their practice squad.
“We’re really happy here and enjoy the organization, the path we’re on and what we’re building,” Ehlinger told Gabriel. “I want to be part of that. I was in Indianapolis for four years and I love everybody over there. It’s just a difficult situation, obviously.”
The Colts began their search for a new starting quarterback after Daniel Jones suffered a torn Achilles, making him unavailable for the rest of the 2025 season. Ehlinger, a sixth-round pick by Indianapolis in the 2021 NFL draft, spent four seasons with the Colts, appearing in eight games and starting six. He completed 63.4 percent of his passes for 573 yards, with three touchdowns and three interceptions.
Ehlinger later agreed to a one-year deal with the Broncos in March. Although he did not make the Broncos’ 53-man roster, ESPN’s Jeff Legwold reported that Ehlinger turned down at least two offers to join active rosters elsewhere in order to remain on Denver’s practice squad.
The Colts also reportedly contacted veteran Derek Carr before agreeing to terms with Rivers. At 8-5 this season, Indianapolis has dropped four of its last five games. Offense has been a concern, with the Colts failing to score more than 20 points in each of their three prior games.
For now, Rivers is on Indianapolis’ practice squad, while Riley Leonard’s status remains uncertain due to a knee injury. Rivers last played in an NFL game in 2020, when he appeared in 16 contests for the Colts.
Would you like this rewritten piece to lean more toward a sports-analysis angle, or keep a straightforward news-reporting tone with more emphasis on Ehlinger’s preferences and decisions?
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