Colts sign quarterback Ryan Lindley

Not long after announcing the signing of quarterback Josh Freeman this afternoon, the Indianapolis Colts brought their roster back up to 53 players by signing another quarterback, as the team announced the signing of Ryan Lindley.

Lindley was originally drafted in the sixth round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals, where he spent the 2012 and 2013 seasons.  He then spent the first ten weeks of the 2014 season on the San Diego Chargers' practice squad before then being signed to the Cardinals active roster.  Eventually, he had to start for Arizona, including in their playoff loss to the Panthers in what was probably the most pathetic single-game quarterbacking performance in recent memory.  This year, Lindley spent training camp with the New England Patriots but was waived shortly before the regular season began.  In his NFL career, Lindley has played in nine games (starting six) and has completed 134 of 264 passes for 1,314 yards and two touchdowns with 11 interceptions.

The signing of Lindley gives the Colts five quarterbacks on their active roster, joining Andrew Luck, Matt Hasselbeck, Stephen Morris, and Josh Freeman.  Hasselbeck, however, is doubtful to play this Sunday with a shoulder injury, while Charlie Whitehurst was placed on injured reserve yesterday with a hamstring injury.  Adding to that, Luck has missed the past six games with a lacerated kidney and torn abdominal muscle, leaving his status very much in doubt for this Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans.  Luck has not officially been ruled out for Sunday yet, but the fact that the Colts signed two quarterbacks today in a matter of a few hours speaks very, very strongly to the assumption that the Colts will not have their franchise quarterback on the field in the regular season finale.  If they thought he could play, I find it hard to believe they would sign two quarterbacks today in addition to Stephen Morris, who was signed last week.  Now, the question becomes who will start this Sunday: will it be Morris?  Freeman?  Even Lindley (probably not, but who knows)?  We don't know that, but one thing that is becoming more and more clear is that it probably won't be either Luck or Hasselbeck.