QB-needy Indianapolis Colts work out Josh Freeman

After losing a third starting quarterback to injury, the Indianapolis Colts are working out Josh Freeman on Monday.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. With Andrew Luck still out indefinitely with a lacerated kidney and a torn abdominal muscle, Matt Hasselbeck recovering from a shoulder injury, and third stringer Charlie Whitehurst exiting the fourth quarter of Sunday’s win over the Dolphins with a hamstring injury, the Indianapolis Colts find themselves in desperate need of a signal caller under center.

So desperate, in fact, that they might be turning to journeyman Josh Freeman, who they brought in for a workout on Monday.

Freeman, a former first round draft pick out of Kansas State, showed initial promise with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but poor play and locker room chemistry issues led to his release in 2013. Freeman then bounced around the NFL, showing up in brief stints with the Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, and Miami Dolphins before signing with a minor league football team last September.

Although Luck has not been officially ruled out for the Colts’ Week 17 finale against the Tennessee Titans, there is no timetable for his return, and the depth at the position has recently been stretched to the breaking point: Stephen Morris had to enter last weekend’s game out of necessity, just three days after he was signed from the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad.