Latest NFL News & Rumors: Monday, October 24

Indianapolis Colts bench Matt Ryan, Sam Ehlinger is the new starter

• Ryan is dealing with a shoulder injury, but head coach Frank Reich announced it’s Ehlinger’s job moving forward regardless.
• Ryan has struggled mightily in his first year with the Colts, completing 68.4% of his passes for 2,008 yards with nine touchdowns and a league-high nine interceptions. He’s also fumbled a whopping 11 times, losing three and has been sacked 24 times — tied for most in the league. Only four quarterbacks have a worse PFF grade than Ryan’s 57.2. 
• The Colts offensive line, once the team's biggest strength, has not helped either: The unit has a 54.5 pass-blocking grade on the year and a 51.0 run-blocking grade.
• The Colts came into the year with the intention of giving Ryan a two-year commitment. He’s making $24.7 million this year and is due $12 million guaranteed next year. His 2023 cap hit is $35 million. 
• Ehlinger, a 2021 sixth-round pick out of Texas, has never started an NFL game. He shined in the preseason, going 24-of-29 for 289 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. 
• The Colts currently have a 3-3-1 record and are in second place in the AFC South, but they have already lost both games to first-place Tennessee. They will host the Washington Commanders this week.

New York Jets RB Breece Hall tears ACL

• The rookie standout was a major spark for the Jets offense, totaling 681 scrimmage yards (463 rushing, 218 receiving) and five touchdowns in six-plus games. He earned a 76.4 rushing grade on the season.
• The Jets will now turn to second-year back Michael Carter, who led the team with 639 rushing yards last season. He’s rushed for 228 yards so far this year and has also contributed in the passing game with 20 catches and 151 yards. He has a 64.9 grade on the year.

New York Jets G Alijah Vera-Tucker suffers season-ending triceps injury

• The Jets have been pummeled by offensive line injuries, and Vera-Tucker has been shuffled around, starting at right guard, left tackle and right tackle this season. That’s after he started at left guard in his rookie year.
• He’s earned a 71.1 overall grade on the year and a 75.2 run-blocking grade. 
• Cedric Ogbuehi, claimed off waivers earlier this month, will now take over the right tackle spot. He played 43 snaps on Sunday and earned a 78.2 pass-blocking grade.
• Meanwhile, George Fant and rookie Max Mitchell are currently on IR, but both are expected back at some point in the near future.

Seattle Seahawks received good news on WR DK Metcalf

• Metcalf was carted to the locker room on Sunday and was immediately ruled out with a knee injury.
• Head coach Pete Carroll said on Monday that it’s a patellar tendon injury, but no surgery is required and the overall situation is much better than what it potentially could’ve been. The team does not have an official timetable as of now.
• The Seahawks signed Metcalf to a three-year, $72 million extension this offseason. He has 31 catches for 418 yards and two touchdowns on the year, earning a 73.0 PFF grade.
• Seattle (4-3) will host the New York Giants (6-1) on Sunday at Lumen Field.

Los Angeles Chargers CB J.C. Jackson suffers significant knee injury

• Jackson was carted off on Sunday and was diagnosed with a ruptured patella tendon. His season is over.
• The Chargers signed Jackson to a large five-year, $82.5 million contract in the offseason. He missed the start of the regular season with an ankle injury and struggled to get going once he got on the field.
• Jackson earned PFF grades under 47.0 in all five games he appeared in this season. His overall grade for the year was 28.7, and his coverage grade was 28.1.
• Michael Davis, a sixth-year veteran, is expected to slide in and take over for Jackson.

Los Angeles Chargers WR Mike Williams has high-ankle sprain

• Williams was carted to the locker room in the fourth quarter and did not return. High-ankle sprains are typically a four-to-six-week injury.
• Williams caught seven passes for 86 yards with a touchdown during Sunday’s loss to Seattle. He has 37 catches for 495 yards and three TDs on the year and has earned a 71.7 grade on the year.
• The Chargers have a bye week coming up and then return with back-to-back road games against Atlanta and San Francisco.

New York Giants OT Evan Neal to miss a few weeks

• The No. 7 overall pick was carted off on Sunday and did not return. Tests showed no ACL damage, but Neal does have an MCL sprain and is likely to miss 3-4 weeks.
• This is the first real injury Neal has suffered dating back to college. He started 40 out of 41 games in three years at Alabama, with the only game missed being due to COVID-19.
• He’s had a slow start but earned a 70.5 PFF grade last week against Baltimore, the best mark of his young career.
• Tyre Phillips filled in for Neal on Sunday and earned a 59.3 grade on 57 snaps. 
• Starting guard Ben Bredeson also suffered a knee injury and is likely to miss a couple of weeks.

New York Giants lose TE Daniel Bellinger to eye injury

• It was a freak injury, as Bellinger was accidentally hit in the face by a Jaguars defender's hand who was trying to knock the ball out. 
• Head coach Brian Daboll said the rookie suffered a fracture around the eye socket and septum and is likely to undergo surgery. The team is hopeful he could return this season.
• Bellinger has been a pleasant surprise for the Giants with 16 catches for 152 yards and two touchdowns on the season. He’s earned a 74.8 overall PFF grade, the best mark among rookie tight ends, and has also held up as a blocker with a 70.3 grade. 

Los Angeles Rams designate WR Van Jefferson to return from IR

• Jefferson has missed the first six games of the season after undergoing offseason knee surgery.
• The third-year receiver took a step forward statistically in 2021, totaling 50 catches for 802 yards and six touchdowns last season compared to 19 receptions for 220 yards and one touchdown as a rookie in 2020. He earned a 61.6 receiving grade.
• Outside of Cooper Kupp, the Rams have struggled to get any of their other wide receivers going this season.
• They have a big divisional game this week against the 49ers.

Cleveland Browns TE David Njoku to miss time due to high-ankle sprain

• Njoku has taken a big step forward this season, leading the team with 34 receptions for 418 yards and a touchdown. He had a team-high seven catches for 71 yards on Sunday before leaving the game.
• Njoku’s 83.5 PFF grade and 86.3 receiving grade are second-best among all tight ends, trailing Travis Kelce.
• The Browns signed Njoku to a four-year, $56.75M extension this past offseason. 
• Second-year tight end Harrison Bryant will be called upon to replace Njoku in the offense while he recovers.