Jacoby Brissett did enough to keep the Indianapolis Colts in the playoff hunt for much of the 2019 season after Andrew Luck made the shocking decision to retire, but that does not mean he has secured his spot as the team’s starting quarterback going forward.
Colts general manager Chris Ballard was asked about Brissett’s job security on Thursday, and he was not willing to commit to the 27-year-old as Indy’s starter for 2020. He said that is why the Colts only signed Brissett to a two-year extension back in September.
Ballard on Brissett: "The jury is still out, that's why we did the short term deal with Jacoby. But, for now, yes, he is our starting quarterback."
— Kurt Darling (@WIBCKurtDarling) January 2, 2020
Some fans are holding out hope that Luck could come out of retirement, but Colts owner Jim Irsay said recently that the team is not expecting that to happen. Ballard reiterated that.
Ballard: "Andrew is retired. We all need to accept that."
— Kurt Darling (@WIBCKurtDarling) January 2, 2020
The Colts have the No. 13 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, and they are expected to at least explore the quarterback market both there and in free agency. Brissett is guaranteed just $7 million next season and can make an additional $8 million in incentives, so his contract is team-friendly enough that keeping him on the roster should not be an issue.
Brissett threw for 2,942 yards, 18 touchdowns and six interceptions in 15 games. He also had to play a significant portion of the season without one of the Colts’ best play-makers. While the Colts could certainly do worse at the QB position, you can’t blame them for feeling they may be able to do better.
