The Indianapolis Colts will officially be without their starting quarterback on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. On Saturday, the team announced that Jacoby Brissett has been downgraded from questionable to out for Sunday's tilt.
#MIAvsIND Injury Updates:
QB Jacoby Brissett has been downgraded to OUT.
CB Pierre Desir has been downgraded to DOUBTFUL.
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) November 9, 2019
Brissett practiced in a limited fashion all week as he battles a sprained MCL suffered in Week 9's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Filling in for Brissett will be backup Brian Hoyer. Last week, he threw for three touchdowns and 168 yards while also throwing an interception. Indianapolis elevated Chad Kelly from the practice squad to the 53-man roster to serve as Hoyer's backup.
Head coach Frank Reich — a former backup quarterback himself — has confidence in Hoyer to fill-in well for Brissett.
“He’s had some plays this week,” Reich said of Hoyer on Friday, via the team's official website. “I don’t know an exact percentage or number, but he’s had his share of plays, and then we’ve gotten him some extra work after practice. And certainly he’s a pro — he’s getting ready in case he’s the starter.”
Though a backup, Hoyer has his fair share of NFL starting experience himself. Since 2009, he has started 37 games for five different teams; he also served as Tom Brady's backup for five seasons. For his career, he has tallied a 16-21 record as a starter while throwing for 10,070 yards, 51 touchdowns and 31 interceptions on a 59.5% completion rate.
The Colts are playing it safe with Brissett. Rather than risk injury against a team with one win, they are holding out hope that he will be available for a stretch of three divisional games.
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