GM: Colts still deciding Wentz's future, criticism of QB 'pretty fair'

The Indianapolis Colts still aren't ready to decide Carson Wentz's future.

Colts general manager Chris Ballard said Tuesday the club is continuing to evaluate the quarterback position following a disastrous end to the 2021 season.

"I don't have the direct answer for you," said Ballard when asked about his plans for Wentz, according to ESPN's Field Yates. "We're working through it."

Ballard said he will sit down with owner Jim Irsay and head coach Frank Reich "over the next few weeks and figure it out," per The Athletic's Stephen Holder.

The GM revealed he met with Wentz for an hour on Tuesday. He emphasized that he wants the quarterback to take the criticism and build upon it moving forward.

"Most of it's pretty fair," said Ballard, according to the MMQB's Albert Breer. "It'll be interesting to see how he grows from this. I think he will."

Wentz was widely slammed for his play as Indianapolis lost its final two games of the regular season to miss out on a wild-card spot.

Ballard couldn't commit to Wentz as his starter moving forward immediately after the end of the campaign, saying he intended to "look at everything" to find the answer at quarterback.

The Colts are potentially eyeing a "big swing" at quarterback, which, if successful, would lead to Wentz being traded or released, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Reports surfaced in mid-February that Wentz's standing with the Colts is "bleak," with the two parties expected to part ways despite the team trading a 2022 first-round pick and a 2021 third-rounder for the signal-caller last March.