Denver Broncos practice-squad quarterback Sam Ehlinger had a clear lane back to Indianapolis this week — and said no.
With the Colts scrambling after Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending Achilles injury, Ehlinger told The Denver Post he spent roughly 48 hours weighing an opportunity to rejoin the franchise that drafted him before deciding to stay in Denver.
It’s a fascinating wrinkle in the same news cycle that has the NFL buzzing: the Colts ultimately worked out and then signed 44-year-old Philip Rivers to the practice squad, opening the door to a comeback that could include a start as soon as this weekend in Seattle.
Broncos QB Sam Ehlinger Turned Down Colts Reunion
Ehlinger, a former sixth-round pick out of Texas, spent his first four NFL seasons in Indianapolis. But with Denver sitting at 11-2 and pushing toward the postseason, he told The Denver Post he didn’t want to leave what the Broncos are building under Sean Payton.
“We’re really happy here and enjoy the organization, the path we’re on and what we’re building,” Ehlinger said, per the report.
Per the same reporting, Ehlinger’s agent had “extensive talks” with Indianapolis, and the Colts’ plan included bringing Ehlinger in along with Rivers — not necessarily handing him the keys outright.
What It Means for Denver’s QB Depth Down the Stretch
For the Broncos, this is about continuity more than headlines.
Keeping Ehlinger in-house gives Payton another quarterback who knows the system and has already survived the weekly roster churn that comes with being a third QB. Earlier this season, Payton said Ehlinger turned down opportunities for 53-man roster spots elsewhere — a sign Denver’s coaches value him, and he values the situation.
There’s also a financial layer: because Ehlinger was on the active roster early in the year, The Denver Post noted he’s eligible for termination pay that effectively locks him into the league minimum for a fifth-year player regardless of practice-squad shuffling.
Bottom line: Denver keeps a trusted emergency option while staying focused on bigger goals than December quarterback drama.
Philip Rivers Becomes Indy’s “Now What?”
The Colts’ decision to bring Rivers back is the kind of move you only make when the quarterback room is on fire.
Indianapolis announced Rivers’ practice-squad signing after a workout, with Jones out and additional uncertainty at the position.
Reuters reported that rookie Riley Leonard has been in the mix and that head coach Shane Steichen has not publicly named a starter yet for the Seahawks game, with the Colts trying to stop a skid and stay afloat in the playoff race.
From a Broncos perspective, it’s also a reminder: Denver’s season is in a very different place right now — and that stability is exactly why a player like Ehlinger might choose a practice-squad role with an 11-2 contender over chaos and urgency elsewhere.
Quick context
- Broncos record: 11-2, with the Green Bay Packers (9-3-1) coming to down for a critical matchup.
- Colts record: 8-5 and set to face a deadly Seattle Seahawks (10-3) team.
- Colts QB change: Daniel Jones torn Achilles; Philip Rivers signed
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