Steichen won't name Minshew starter: 'He's coming in to just compete'

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen refused to say if he'll name quarterback Gardner Minshew the starter.

"Right now, obviously, he's coming in to just compete and be the best he can be," Steichen told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network on Sunday. "That's where we feel he's at right now, and that's his role right now."

The Colts signed Minshew to a one-year, $3.5-million deal on March 16, adding him to a quarterback room with Nick Foles and Sam Ehlinger. Steichen and Minshew spent two years together in Philadelphia.

Minshew played in fives games last season for the Eagles, including two starts in Weeks 15 and 16 while Jalen Hurts recovered from a shoulder injury. Minshew went 0-2 in those starts, throwing for 629 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions.

"Gardner's awesome," Steichen said. "You know, I got to spend the two years with him in Philly and just the way he sees the game and processes the game. It's like a coach, you know, he sees it really well. He was great."

Indianapolis holds the fourth pick in the upcoming draft and is expected to select a quarterback in the first round. The Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans, both slotted to pick ahead of the Colts, are also likely to consider taking a signal-caller.

"I just think every year, no matter where we've picked or any team I've been a part of, you do that, the work on the quarterbacks regardless, no matter what happens, where you're picking, who you're thinking of picking, you always wanted to do the research on those guys," Steichen said.

The 26-year-old Minshew has appeared in 32 career games, compiling an 8-16 record in 24 starts. He's thrown for 6,632 yards with 44 touchdowns and 15 interceptions since 2019.