Sam Ehlinger will start for Colts, Matt Ryan backup vs. Texans with Nick Foles out

INDIANAPOLIS -- Nick Foles is extremely sore following the rib injury that had him carted off the field in Sunday's blowout loss to the Giants.

It's a blow that ends his season.

Foles is out for this upcoming Sunday's season finale against the Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium. Sam Ehlinger will start in his place with Matt Ryan as the backup.

Foles went down on a sack by Giants first-round rookie Kayvon Thibodeaux, who came unblocked and knocked Foles to the turf, where he landed on the ball and hurt his rib cage. Foles was carted off the field.

"Nick's really sore, obviously, in the whole side of his body," interim coach Jeff Saturday said Monday. "He took a massive shot there and landed on the ball. It's a lot of pain. He'll be down this week."

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Ehlinger stepped in and finished out the 38-10 loss that dropped the Colts to 4-11-1.. He completed nine of 14 passes for 60 yards and his first touchdown pass of his career, which came to Michael Pittman Jr.

Now, the second-year, sixth-round pick out of Texas will make his third start of the season against the Texans. He started against the Commanders and Patriots after the team decided to bench Matt Ryan at midseason, and the team lost by one point to Washington and by 23 to New England.

Ehlinger struggled against the Patriots, taking nine sacks as the offense scored just three points and then fired coach Frank Reich. Jeff Saturday arrived as interim coach and re-inserted Ryan as the starter, earning a win against the Raiders before a four-game losing streak sent him back to the bench, this time in favor of Foles.

Foles lost both of his starts, against the Chargers and Giants, finishing with no touchdowns and four interceptions. The former Super Bowl MVP signed a two-year deal with the Colts this spring in order to reunite with Reich as the backup to Ryan, but the quarterback room hasn't played out like any of them have envisioned and leaves his status for 2023 up in the air.

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

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts: Sam Ehlinger will start vs. Texans with Nick Foles out