Nick

Foles

In a post to his Instagram, Foles, a former third-round pick of the Eagles in 2012, has opted to call it quits. The veteran quarterback didn’t play an NFL snap in 2023, but he is most remembered for his run as the Eagles’ starter during the 2017 season when he stepped in for an injured Carson Wentz and led the team to an unprecedented Super Bowl victory in Super Bowl LII. During that three-game playoff stretch, Foles threw for 971-6-1 while completing 72.6 percent of his passes. He was on the receiving end of the famous “Philly Special,” which helped give the Eagles a 22-12 lead over the Patriots before halftime. A journeyman quarterback who spent time with six different franchises over his career, Foles is also one of nine quarterbacks to throw for seven touchdowns in a game, which he did during a Week 9 contest against the Raiders. Foles retires with a career 29-29 record while throwing for 14,227 yards and 82 touchdowns.

Foles, 34, started two games for the Colts last season, throwing for 224 yards, no touchdowns, and four interceptions for the fearless Jeff Saturday. Since parting ways with the Eagles after the 2018 season, Foles has appeared in just 17 games and is 3-11 as a starter over that span. The former Super Bowl LII MVP has little left to prove in a career that’s spanned 11 seasons and brought Philadelphia its first title back in 2017. Whether he decides to hang it up or sign elsewhere this offseason is anybody’s guess, but Foles has been on the cusp as a backup, and served primarily as the Colts’ QB3 last season.

Saturday noted that Foles was “really sore” and in “a lot of pain” after Sunday’s loss to the Giants. Foles was knocked from the game with a rib injury after taking a hit from Kayvon Thibodeaux and later carted to the locker room after walking off under his own power. This concludes a 2022 season for Foles that saw him throw for 224 yards, no touchdowns and four interceptions in two games. Foles didn’t see any action until Week 16 against the Chargers and will be 34 at the start of next season. Having already flirted with retirement in the past, it wouldn’t be surprising if this is the last time we see Foles in an NFL uniform.

Foles was dropping back and had no clue Kayvon Thibodeaux was coming from behind. Foles walked off under his own power, but was soon taken to the locker room on the cart. He’s been ruled out and Sam Ehlinger will replace him. Foles finished his day completing 8-of-13 passes for 81 yards and an interception that was returned for a touchdown.

It was an awful showing for Foles who was making his first start of the season. He was either getting sacked (seven times) due to the overrated offensive line, or he was throwing interceptions directly to defenders. Foles was rattled all game and the offense couldn’t get anything going. It turns out that benching Matt Ryan wasn’t the answer for the Colts. Stay tuned to see if the Colts will make another quarterback change.

Foles, 33, started one game for the Bears in 2021, completing 24 of 35 passes for 250 yards and a touchdown against the Seahawks. He’s likely an upgrade under center for the Colts over the deteriorating Matt Ryan. The Colts made the QB change after Week 15’s historic loss to the Vikings in which Indy took a 33-0 lead before losing to Minnesota. Foles, who reportedly hasn’t taken a snap with the first-team offense since the summer, can be rostered in superflex formats. In Week 16, he’ll face a Chargers defense allowing the 12th lowest EPA per drop back since Week 8.

Ryan has been benched for the second time this season following last week’s historic meltdown against the Vikings in which Ryan and head coach Jeff Saturday choked away a 33-0 lead. Foles is expected to start the final three games of yet another lost season for the down-bad Colts. Ryan’s season -- and possibly his career -- ends on the most inglorious note possible. Acquired from the Falcons to provide some stability for the Indy offense, Ryan -- behind a terrible offensive line -- was a complete disaster from start to finish in 2022, managing 14 touchdowns to go along with 13 interceptions in 12 starts. Ryan’s adjusted yards per attempt (6) was the lowest of his 14-year NFL career. With no ability to avoid pass rushers and an arm as weak as any quarterback in the NFL, Ryan’s days as a starter are likely over. Foles in 2021 started one game for the Bears, completing 24 of 35 passes for 250 yards and a touchdown against the Seahawks. He can be picked up in superflex formats.

Foles will reunite with Frank Reich, who coaches the Eagles’ offense during Foles’ Super Bowl run in 2018. Now 33, Foles is nothing more than an emergency backup option. He predictably struggled in seven games as Chicago’s starter in 2020 and completed 24 of 35 passes last year for 250 yards and one touchdown.

Keefer added that a deal isn’t done yet, but the move could happen as soon as next week. With Sam Ehlinger as the Colts’ best option at backup quarterback right now, bringing in a veteran makes sense for their roster. Foles also has experience playing under Colts head coach Frank Reich. The two were paired up during the Eagles’ magical postseason run that ended with a Super Bowl LII victory for the team and a Super Bowl MVP trophy for Foles. Reich was Philly’s offensive coordinator at the time. Though overpaid at times, Foles is a capable backup who can execute Indy’s offense if needed.

After months of fruitless trade talks, Foles requested his release, and the Bears granted it. “(GM) Ryan Poles did the classy thing and Nick appreciates it,” were the words of Foles’ agent. It brings to an end a forgettable two-year tenure in the Windy City, one that that came after a disastrous one-year stint in Jacksonville. As feared all along, Foles once again proved to be an excellent role-playing backup who became overexposed in a starting role. Foles has had a classic “football life,” but he will have to be willing to accept strict No. 2 duties from here on out if he wants to continue his career at age 33. We would have to imagine he would. There are certainly worse backups in the league.