The Indianapolis Colts benched Matt Ryan for the rest of the season. Just seven weeks into the NFL season, the Colts sit at 3-3-1. The team officially announced that backup quarterback Sam Ehlinger will be stepping up in the place of Ryan. Ehlinger is a sixth-round pick from 2021 when the Houston Texans took the quarterback out of the University of Texas.Zak Keefer@zkeeferTo clarify: the Colts are making the switch at QB regardless of Matt Ryan's injury. The plan, as of now, is for Sam Ehlinger to be the starting quarterback the rest of the season.3962708To clarify: the Colts are making the switch at QB regardless of Matt Ryan's injury. The plan, as of now, is for Sam Ehlinger to be the starting quarterback the rest of the season.The Colts were expected to contend for the playoffs. However, with another slow start to the season, it seems that the team wants to make drastic moves sooner rather than later. NFL Twitter, of course, reacted to the news with its usual aplomb. Many fans felt the money was not well spent, specifically, the $12 million guaranteed contract for 2023."So we gave dude a two year contract just to put him on the bench the 6th game of the year. Colts front office is horrible"Mych Tray@Mychtray2u@zkeefer So we gave dude a two year contract just to put him on the bench the 6th game of the year 🤣. Colts front office is horrible2203@zkeefer So we gave dude a two year contract just to put him on the bench the 6th game of the year 🤣. Colts front office is horribleLembardi (3-4)@Bleeazy@Mychtray2u @zkeefer To be fair nobody expected him to shit the bed this hard2@Mychtray2u @zkeefer To be fair nobody expected him to shit the bed this hardAndrew Luck > Carson Wentz > Matt RyanJames Reynolds@reynolj@Mychtray2u @zkeefer Everyone in the media said they were amazing for trading away Wentz and trading for Ryan. Conveniently ignoring that the same front office traded for Wentz and a clearly past it Matt Ryan.1@Mychtray2u @zkeefer Everyone in the media said they were amazing for trading away Wentz and trading for Ryan. Conveniently ignoring that the same front office traded for Wentz and a clearly past it Matt Ryan.Joe@Jtutuola@zkeefer If only QB was the issue here. It’s not a Qb thing. Oline can’t block and than you stopped handing the ball off. Now you’re gonna ask a rookie to throw 50x10@zkeefer If only QB was the issue here. It’s not a Qb thing. Oline can’t block and than you stopped handing the ball off. Now you’re gonna ask a rookie to throw 50xOther fans noted that the team around Ryan has been hurt, especially star running back Jonathan Taylor. Additionally, the Colts’ offensive line has not lived up to their reputation.reggie silva@reggie94lakers@zkeefer Disrespectful to bring in Matt Ryan and do this to him even though he hasn’t played great some blame goes all around make the team better around him26@zkeefer Disrespectful to bring in Matt Ryan and do this to him even though he hasn’t played great some blame goes all around make the team better around himRandy@NewDecadeSameMe@zkeefer How long we going to blame the QB and ignore the real issue? How many QB changes we going to go through?2@zkeefer How long we going to blame the QB and ignore the real issue? How many QB changes we going to go through?After the news, the T-word started to trend.Brandon Schofield@schofieldb95@zkeefer I did NOT see this coming at all wow I guess we are in tank mode19@zkeefer I did NOT see this coming at all wow I guess we are in tank mode https://t.co/EM2Hy9fGDY🏈 COLTS FAN 🏈@indycoltsfan34@zkeefer Is this what tanking looks like? 41@zkeefer Is this what tanking looks like? 😳Playoffs? Ex-Colts head coach Jim Mora’s famous quote lives on:Flee Sampras@Trill_Cosbee@zkeefer Never too early for this.13@zkeefer Never too early for this. https://t.co/uIoRwD5w8Alucas@ChiefSweezy@zkeefer The rest of the season is going to be a complete disaster. But at least it’ll give an opportunity for an honest assessment all around11@zkeefer The rest of the season is going to be a complete disaster. But at least it’ll give an opportunity for an honest assessment all aroundThe Indianapolis Colts are either going all in or tanking early by benching Matt RyanAlthough a 3-3-1 record is not terrible, the Indianapolis Colts have turned a new page, again. After announcing the benching of former league MVP Matt Ryan, it seems the team is either trying something new to make the playoffs, or purposely tanking for a top draft pick next year.The Colts are still second in the AFC South division and sit two games back from a wildcard spot in the conference. They still have star running back Jonathan Taylor and wide receiver Michael Pittman. However, the two skill position players have not exactly lived up to the preseason hype. Perhaps part or most of the blame lies with Ryan, but going forward, the Colts expect both Taylor and Pittman to step up and lead the team to a playoff berth.The AFC South, which includes the Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Houston Texans, is not the strongest division. Indianapolis thus still has a chance to grab the division title or a wildcard spot.