Indianapolis Colts: QB Jacob Eason surprises in preseason debut

Indianapolis Colts QB Jacob Eason surprised in his preseason debut in a positive way.

The Indianapolis Colts got a long look at their young quarterbacks in their Sunday preseason game versus the Carolina Panthers. With Carson Wentz likely sidelined until the season starts, second-year quarterback Jacob Eason and rookie Sam Ehlinger split the reps, each getting a half of football. Many were excited to see the strong-armed Eason get some live game reps in, and the fourth round pick in 2020 surprised a good deal of fans and analysts with his performance.

On the surface, the numbers looked solid. Eason completed 15 of 21 passing for 183 yards and a QB rating of 97.9.

Eason looked extremely comfortable in the quick game out of the shotgun, showing off good timing with receivers running routes outside the numbers. His velocity obviously flashed as expected (the ball explodes out of his hand), and he took a couple chances with tight window throws, putting plenty of velocity on them to make tough completions.

Regarding the intermediate and deep areas, of the field, Eason took some shots and looked good doing so. He found Dezmon Patmon on a deep in, putting that extra mustard on for a nice first down completion. Eason also showed off some touch on the deep ball, putting a ball perfectly in the hands of Parris Campbell for a 37 yard gain. He found Michael Strachan on a two-minute drill before the half, giving Strachan a chance to climb the ladder for a great pitch and catch. His day wasn’t without the occasional miss, but overall, the accuracy and placement was solid.

There are things for Eason to work on after his first reps. Footwork is something that needs to keep improving, as some throws to the left leave Eason opening up a bit too much. His presence in the pocket, something that was a struggle at Georgia and Washington, also needs to take a step up. Too many times Eason didn’t step up in the pocket when space was there, one of which led to a turnover on a strip sack. Stepping up also helps his line out, as they can drive defenders up the field with confidence that turning the corner won’t mean anything.

Overall though, it’s hard not to be excited with Jacob Eason’s first performance for the Indianapolis Colts. He showed plenty of promise and there should be loads of excitement for his next start and growth while he (likely) sits behind Wentz for the 2021 season.