Colts Reportedly Re-Sign QB Dan Orlovsky UPDATE Confirmed, Orlovsky Signed

UPDATE: Local Indy FOX affiliate confirms the signing. -bbs

From the Indianapolis Star, via Twitter:

Source: Colts re-sign QB Dan Orlovsky. Team has 4 QBs on active roster. Who starts Monday night?

Well, it would be a pretty big slap in Curtis Painter's face if the Colts started Dan Orlovsky against the Buccaneers Monday night after signing him today. But, if Kerry Collins cannot play (and the re-signing of Orlovsky strongly suggests he won't), the better option is to go with Orlovsky.

The former Lions quarterback famous for running out the back of the endzone to avoid a sure sack by Vikings defensive terror Jared Allen back in 2008, Orlovsky was signed initially signed n early August. He participated in Colts training camp and played in all four preseason games. In each game, Orlovsky pretty much out-played Curtis Painter. The Colts cut Orlovsky after the fourth and final preseason game against the Bengals, a game where Orlovsky posted a QB rating of over 100.

Unlike Painter, Orlovsky has experience starting in the regular season. Unlike Collins, Orlovsky isn't 38-years-old, and can move a round in the pocket.

With Orlovsky on the active roster, the question is who was cut or IRed to make room for him? Was Peyton Manning finally placed on Injured Reserve?

Again, like many people who tortured themselves repeatedly watched all four Colts preseason games, it was obvious Orlovsky outplayed Painter and is, overall , a better quarterback. Just like with Tom Brandstater last season (another somewhat below average QB who outplayed Painter), the Colts have a frustrating tendency to make excuses for Painter at the expense of better options at the back-up QB position.

In preseason this year, working mostly with players who did not make the final 53-man roster, Orlovsky completed 46% of his passes for 386 yards, three TDs, three INTs, and one fumble. Amazingly, those numbers are only slightly worse than Painter's in preseason, and Curtis worked exclusively with the starting offense.