Colts vs. Titans NFL Week 3 injury report, odds, spread, pick: Looking to avoid first 0-3 start in 10 years, Indy likely starting Jacob Eason for Carson Wentz at QB
The Colts may be staring 0-3 in the face with Jacob Eason likely to make his first NFL start at quarterback Sunday in Nashville.
The Indianapolis Colts haven't started 0-3 since 2011 – which allowed them to earn the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft and take Andrew Luck – but they are staring that record in the face Sunday at the rival Tennessee Titans as Indy likely will have to give Jacob Eason his first-ever start at quarterback as Carson Wentz is dealing with not one but two sprained ankles. The Titans are 5-point favorites at Caesars Sportsbook but that could rise if/when Wentz is officially ruled out.
Indianapolis was the only team in the NFL to not be an underdog once in the 2020 regular season but now is for a third straight week and probably will be the next two as well Week 4 in Miami and Week 5 in Baltimore.
When is the last time you heard of a quarterback spraining both his ankles in the same game? That's what happened to Wentz in last Sunday's 27-24 home loss to the Rams, with his right ankle the more severe one. He was playing through an early left sprain. Wentz has been sacked six times and hit an additional 21 times already behind what is supposed to be one of the NFL's top offensive lines.
Of course, Wentz also had foot surgery early in camp, so Eason and rookie Sam Ehlinger both got plenty of snaps. By most accounts, Eason was a bit overwhelmed in camp and the preseason. He was 2-for-5 for 25 yards with a game-clinching pick for L.A. in relief of Wentz vs. the Rams.
"I think Jacob's been doing a really good job, he's been really dialed in," Colts head coach Frank Reich said. "Scott Milanovich, our quarterbacks coach, has spent a lot of time with Jacob, all through training camp and even here in these first couple of weeks, just like he's playing. If called upon, I'm confident Jacob will do a nice job."
Ehlinger isn't an option now as he suffered a sprained knee during the preseason finale. Many beat writers following the Colts have been critical this week that the team didn't add a veteran in camp. If Wentz can't serve as the No. 2 this week, it presumably would be Brett Hundley. The Colts protected him on the practice squad this week.
The potential good news for Indy: The road team has won five straight in this series and Indy under Reich (2018-20) has won four of the last six games against Tennessee, with a different starting quarterback in each of those three seasons.
Tennessee may have saved its season last week with a stunning OT comeback win in Seattle. That snapped Tennessee's 37-game losing streak when trailing by 14+ pts at halftime (last win: 2006). Derrick Henry had 182 yards rushing and three scores. The former Heisman winner became the fourth player in NFL history with 10 career games of at least 150 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. The record is 13 by Jim Brown. Henry had 281 yards and three scores in two games last year vs. Indy on 46 carries.
Who wins every NFL game? And which teams will sink your bankroll? Join SportsLine now to get NFL picks every week, all from the model that simulates every game 10,000 times and is up almost $8,000.
