Nick Foles has been caught in the middle of Colts' quarterback changes

INDIANAPOLIS - Nick Foles didn't join the Colts expecting to see Matt Ryan benched halfway through the season.

But he's been in adverse situations before, having played for six franchises. He's been a starter who has lost his job, has replaced a starter and kept the job and has been on the move across 69 games, 56 starts and 11 seasons.

Seeing the four-time Pro Bowler and league MVP he came here to back up benched by midseason is the latest twist. And it's thrown Foles' role into question with 1 ½ years left on his contract.

"You're always caught by surprise when something takes place, but you're a human being as well, so you're there for your brothers," Foles said. "I've learned in this league that there's going to be decisions that we as players don't make. You can be emotional for a moment, but then you have to get your head right and say, 'All right, whatever my job is, I have to do my job.'"

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The Colts will start Sam Ehlinger on Sunday against the Commanders at Lucas Oil Stadium. For the second-year, sixth-round pick out of Texas, these will be his first passes in an NFL game. The decision was collectively made by owner Jim Irsay, general manager Chris Ballard and coach Frank Reich.

Foles will serve as the backup with Ryan out for the week with a Grade 2 shoulder separation. It'll actually serve as a promotion for Foles, as the former Super Bowl MVP had been downgraded to the inactive No. 3 spot the past two games with Ehlinger's rise up the depth chart.

It's a long way from where he started with the Colts this spring, when he signed a two-year, $6.2 million deal with $4 million guaranteed. He asked for a second year of guarantees to give himself and his family some stability, since the Colts were already his sixth job.

He reunited with Reich, his offensive coordinator in Philadelphia, where Foles replaced an injured Carson Wentz for the playoffs and led the Eagles to a Super Bowl victory over the Patriots.

He never came to Indianapolis expecting to be a starter. He hoped to support and elevate the game of Ryan, who at 37 years old was looking for a championship run. The Colts did not sign any other starters to the offense, and Ryan has committed a league-high 12 turnovers while taking a league-worst 184 yards in sacks during a 3-3-1 start.

Now, Ryan and Foles are left wondering who the backup to Ehlinger is when both are healthy. The team has not made that clear.

"It doesn't matter if you are 1, 2 or 3. You've got to have some sort of routine, some sort of platform, some sort of identity outside of this game," Foles said. "I've always said mine is my faith. So then, whether it's as a backup or the No. 3, you still go to work. Yes, there might be something different going on inside because there's different pressure levels."

As a former 14-year NFL backup quarterback, Reich understands Foles more than most coaches. He's trying to support him during this change as much as he can.

"He’s the perfect person to handle it," Reich said. "He’s very grounded. He’s been through about every scenario that you can be through and played about every role you can play as a quarterback."

Contact Colts insider Nate Atkins at natkins@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @NateAtkins_.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts: Nick Foles now backs up Sam Ehlinger with Matt Ryan benched