Have to embrace being Colts backup

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Matt Ryan had a sore right shoulder and was going to work on it on Monday.

He was hit with the news that he had lost his starting job to Sam Ehlinger.

"As a player, you always anticipate, you're getting ready, you're going to go," Ryan said in his first comments since the Colts' decision. That's where your mind is at. There is a little bit of shock at the beginning, but it's a decision they had to make and you have to help out wherever you can.

Ryan has never been a backup in his 15-year career and has never missed a start in his career. But after committing 12 turnovers in his first seven games in Indianapolis, he now finds himself sitting behind a 24 year old who has never thrown a pass in a regular season game.

Being a backup isn't something Ryan has dealt with. I've seen it happen before.

To be the best in that role you can be, you have to accept and embrace the role that they decide for you. That is what I will do.

Reich rejected the idea that Indianapolis is giving up on the season because of their 3-3-1 record and second place standing in the AFC South.

Reich told me that nobody is waving the white flag. I don't have it in my genes. Our players don't have it in their genes. I won't do that in a million years. I was unable to do that.

Ryan Kelly said the team's reaction was mixed.

Kelly said that everyone has their own opinions about it. I'm not going to get into mine, but I think people are a little surprised. So it is what it is, right?