For the Broncos, starting quarterback Bo Nix is not expected to play, leaving Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger to handle quarterback duties for the entire game. Stidham is expected to serve as the backup quarterback. Even if Ehlinger receives the majority of the work against Minnesota, it could simply be Denver allowing him to audition for another team.

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell shared that several players will be inactive for the game, noting that it remains undetermined who will start at quarterback among J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer. O’Connell is hopeful McCarthy can get more reps, though he did not practice Wednesday due to an ankle issue suffered last weekend against Baltimore.

Vikings quarterback preseason performance

It has not been a good preseason for McCarthy, who has completed 52.9% of his passes—the lowest mark among the four Minnesota quarterbacks—for 115 yards.

Wentz, on the other hand, has been by far the most efficient quarterback over the last two games. He leads the team in completion rate (72%) and passing yards (173), while standing as the only quarterback on the squad to throw a touchdown.

Last season, McCarthy completed 57.6% of his passes for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, adding 181 rushing yards and four touchdowns across 10 games. While he posted a 6-4 record on the season, he faced a ton of criticism for his performance earlier in the year.

Expectations for Denver’s quarterbacks

If Ehlinger does not end up on the active roster as the third-string quarterback, he will presumably be a top target for Denver’s practice squad. Following a disastrous showing in the NFL AFC Championship Game—where he was thrust into action after Nix broke his ankle in January—Stidham was a player many Broncos fans wanted to see replaced. The announcement that he would have to win a competition against Ehlinger to hold onto his job was met with excitement from Broncos Country.

However, if this ever was a one-on-one competition, Stidham likely ended those talks with a sharp performance against the Atlanta Falcons in the preseason opener. He demonstrated terrific command of the offense, completing 9 of 15 passes for 131 yards and a touchdown pass.

Ryan, 37, has fallen short of expectations in seven starts. Though it’s debatable whether the Colts’ offensive struggles were entirely his fault, the truth is that nine touchdowns and nine interceptions cost him the job early in the season.

Now, it’s Ehlinger’s turn to prove what he’s made of. Selected by the Colts in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL draft, Ehlinger will get his first start in the league on Sunday against the Washington Commanders. Here, let’s get to know more about him.

How old is Sam Ehlinger?

Born on September 30, 1998, Sam Ehlinger is 24 years old. He started to pursue a career in football at Westlake High School in Austin, Texas— the same high school attended by Super Bowl-winning quarterbacksDrew Brees and Nick Foles.

How tall is Sam Ehlinger?

Sam Ehlinger is six feet and one inch tall (1.85 m), while he weighs 222 lb (101 kg). Following an impressive stint in high school, Ehlinger attended the University of Texas at Austin to play college football for the Texas Longhorns.

Sam Ehlinger’s college stats

During his time with the Longhorns, Ehlinger won a reputation for being a dual-threat quarterback. In his four college football seasons, Ehlinger recorded over 11,400 passing yards as well as 1,900 rushing yards, throwing for 94 touchdowns and 27 interceptions while scoring 33 rushing touchdowns.

Sam Ehlinger’s contract with the Colts: What is his salary?

On the heels of a remarkable career in college football, the Colts selected Ehlinger with the 218th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft. According to Spotrac, Ehlinger signed a four-year, $3.6 million contract with the Colts in 2021. That deal included a $130k signing bonus, $130k guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $903k. This season, Ehlinger will earn a base salary of $825,000.