Third-string quarterback buzz? Third-string quarterback buzz.
The Denver Broncos signed Sam Ehlinger this spring to provide depth at quarterback behind starter Bo Nix and primary backup Jarrett Stidham. Through two weeks of training camp, Ehlinger has impressed.
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Ehlinger hit undrafted wide receiver Courtney Jackson for a 45-yard touchdown pass while scrambling during Monday’s practice, and coach Sean Payton took notice.
“Really positive,” Payton said of Ehlinger’s camp performance. “He made a throw [Monday]. He’s extremely athletic, and he’s comfortable throwing on the run. There’s a little moxie to him. Sometimes it can be a little big for guys, but with him, not at all. You feel like a guy who has played well before, and his confidence and he carries himself that way. He’s very good off the pocket, very good off schedule. He’s strong. I like the player a lot.”
Ehlinger, 26, entered the league as a sixth-round pick out of Texas with the Indianapolis Colts in 2021. He was a preseason darling during his time with the Colts, totaling 1,256 yards and scoring six touchdowns from 2021-2024.
“There are winning traits, there’s football I.Q.,” Payton said of Ehlinger. “You’re still evaluating the keys, arm strength and location. I like the foot athlete that he is and his pedigree.”
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Ehlinger’s unlikely to upset Stidham for the QB2 job, and he’s certainly not taking the QB1 role from Nix. He will be fun to watch during preseason, though, and Ehlinger could end up as the practice squad as Denver’s QB3 in 2025.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL: Sean Payton likes Denver Broncos QB3 Sam Ehlinger ‘a lot’