After trading for Carson Wentz this offseason with the hopes of having him back at full strength, it looks as if the Indianapolis Colts took a big risk by trading for the injury-prone quarterback. With Wentz now needing surgery on his foot and expected to miss a huge portion of the upcoming NFL season, the Colts will now be scrambling to find a replacement at quarterback that can hold them over until Wentz is back at full strength.

Seeing as the Colts are a pro-bowl caliber quarterback away from Super Bowl contention, it’ll be rather challenging for them to find that quality of quarterback with a relatively short window to prepare him for the 2021-22 NFL season. Having said all this, let’s take a look at the three best options at quarterback for the Colts with Carson Wentz undergoing surgery.

Marcus Mariota 

Currently on the Raiders roster as Derek Carr’s back-up, Marcus Mariota would thrive in a starting role if put in the right situation. The Colts currently present that with a loaded offense that features T.Y. Hilton, Jonathan Taylor, and Michael Pittman Jr. amongst others. While filling for an injured Derek Carr last season, Mariota was very productive and led the Raiders to some key victories last season which kept them in the AFC playoff race.

On the Colts he’d be able to multiply that success and move the ball around effectively while showcasing his abilities as a highly efficient mobile quarterback. As an athletic gun slinger who’s looking for another chance to prove himself as a starting quarterback in this league, Mariota could thrive in Frank Reich’s offense and keep the Colts in the mix as Super Bowl contenders.

Nick Foles 

Bringing in Nick Foles to fill in for an injured Carson Wentz would be all too familiar, but given that the Bears are looking to have Justin Fields or Andy Dalton as their starting quarterback during the 2021 NFL season, this trade wouldn’t be all that crazy. Especially considering that he’s a former Super Bowl MVP that took the league by complete surprise when he led the Philadelphia Eagles to their first title in franchise history in 2018.

If there’s a veteran quarterback that can take this team to the next level and elevate the play of his teammates then it’s definitely Nick Foles. As a proven winner and seasoned pressure player, Foles could help the Colts overcome the odds and power through to a deep playoff run next season. If Indianapolis wants a reliable quarterback who can take the reins of this star-studded offense and possibly lead them to a division title, then this would be a great trade for the Colts to pursue.

Gardner Minshew 

Now that the Jaguars are looking to Trevor Lawrence to be their quarterback of the future, it seems that Gardner Minshew may have lost his place on the team, but where one door closes another one opens, and that’s where the Colts come into play. This would be an opportunity for Minshew to get a fresh start on a talented young squad that’s ready to compete for a championship and fight their way into the elite of the AFC.

In Indianapolis, Minshew mania could run ramped again and make the Colts one of the exciting new teams to watch out for this season. If there is team that would take a chance on Minshew and give him a winning situation to work with, then it’s the Indianapolis Colts.

With Gardner Minshew looking for an opportunity to be a starter and the Jaguars likely being willing to move him, this could be steal for the Colts that would give them some great insurance at quarterback in case Wentz winds up having to miss more time than  previously expected.