The Indianapolis Colts may have to rely on second-year quarterback Jacob Eason to begin the season so it’s a good thing he feels his confidence building as the season approaches.
Making his debut for the team that selected him in the fourth round of the 2021 draft, Eason felt a bit more confident coming out to the field after a strong start against the Carolina Panthers to open the preseason.
“I mean it was my first game in two years, getting out there, getting hit a little bit, seeing live stuff. Yeah, maybe it is a little different,” Eason told the media Wednesday. “I’m coming out here with a little bit more, ‘Hey, I can do this.’ That kind of thing, and not that I doubted that I could do I beforehand, but it’s just getting the reps in the bag and coming out. So yeah, the theme has been stacking days and keeping it small. That’s what I’ve been trying to do and just keep stacking good days.”
Eason was one of the standouts from the preseason opener on Sunday. He got the start and despite not having other starting pass-catchers or his offensive line, it was a strong showing. He was 15/21 for 183 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions and a 97.2 passer rating.
It was an impressive showing for a quarterback who hasn’t taken a snap in a game since his senior year of college in 2019.
Using that time away from actually seeing reps on the field wasn’t easy, but Eason feels it could be working out for the better.
“It was just a different year. I was here last year like I said in the last interview, but I wasn’t really getting the reps. You can see it on film and you can talk about it, but it’s different than actually being back there in the pocket with bullets flying at you,” Eason said. “It was a little bit of an acclimation period and that kind of thing, but I’m still just taking it a day at a time and try to continually improve on the day before and grow in that regard.”
While he won’t be getting the start against the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday for the team’s second preseason game, Eason will get plenty of reps to continue making his case for the backup and potential spot starting role while Carson Wentz works his way back from foot surgery.
