Hasselbeck to start over Luck on Thursday Night Football
By John Buhler
Matt Hasselbeck will start at quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday Night Football.
According to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, the Indianapolis Colts plan to start Matt Hasselbeck at quarterback over Andrew Luck on Thursday Night Football.
Matt Hasselbeck flew to Houston planning to start for #Colts, source says. Andrew Luck will throw pregame, but Hasselbeck expected to start
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 8, 2015
The ageless wonder that is 40-year-old quarterback Matt Hasselbeck will start for the second consecutive week at quarterback for the Colts. Indianapolis’ normal starter, four-year NFL veteran Andrew Luck is still coming back from an arm injury that kept him sidelined in the Colts’ overtime victory over AFC South rival Jacksonville on Sunday. Luck is listed for tonight’s game as questionable.
Hasselbeck isn’t healthy either. He is listed as questionable, too, as he is battling back from a virus that he contracted after last week’s game against the Jaguars. Hasselbeck had to receive an IV and was in the emergency room as late as Tuesday night.
Matt Hasselbeck isn't healthy, either. Thanks to a virus, he ended up in the hospital after last week's game, getting an IV. He's still sick
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 8, 2015
Should Hasselbeck remain ill, that might mean that third-string quarterback Josh Johnson might see some action, possibly even start for the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5. Fortunately for the Colts, they are playing a 1-3 Houston Texans team that has their own issues at quarterback.
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Last week’s starter Ryan Mallett was ineffective against the Atlanta Falcons, getting benched to start the 4th quarter in favor of Week 1 starter Brian Hoyer. Houston was down 42-0 to Atlanta before Hoyer came in.
Indianapolis should feel concerned about their quarterback situation on a short week. The Colts have the 27th ranked defense in football, 22nd against the pass and 27th against the run. Their offense has not been spectacular either, 26th overall, 14th through the air and 28th on the ground.
Should Indianapolis drop this divisional game on the road, the Colts will fall to 2-3 on the year and may not remain the odds-on favorite to win the worst division in football. However, should Matt Hasselbeck play with poise and the Colts defense can slow down Hoyer and company, Indy could move to 3-2 and be in good position to win their division.