The Indianapolis Colts found their backup quarterback to Jacoby Brissett in Brian Hoyer. The New England Patriots released Hoyer on Saturday in favor of rookie Jarrett Stidham. Now, he'll join a former Patriots backup to be his backup — when, originally, Brissett was the backup before Andrew Luck's retirement.
Indianapolis signed Hoyer to a three-year, $12 million contract. Considering his experience (now 11 years, two and a half as a starter), the 33-year-old became a hot commodity on the open market for teams seeking a competent backup.
After signing him, head coach Frank Reich had kind words for the quarterback and his impact on the team. He said, per Zak Keefer of The Athletic:
“Brian has the toughness and accuracy we look for in a quarterback and he's been in offensive systems that are similar to ours. He has a tremendous amount of experience and is a proven leader. Brian's knowledge will be a valuable resource in supporting Jacoby [Brissett] and the team on and off the field. We're excited to have him here.”
On the same day the Colts invested on a backup, they also paid their starter. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the team gave Brissett a two-year extension worth $30 million. He was set to be a free agent after the 2019 season.
Now, the Colts will be running with two quarterbacks locked up for the future. In the wake of Luck's retirement, Indianapolis has stayed calm rebuilding the position, and it's paying off. Behind them: Chad Kelly, who is on a two-game suspension from the NFL.
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