Rookie quarterback Sam Ehlinger of the Indianapolis Colts never expected to find himself as a possible starter in his first NFL game. But he believes the adversity he already has faced has prepared him for whatever happens.
Colts Coach Frank Reich recently announced that he was moving Ehlinger into the starting spot in case Carson Wentz can’t play on Sept. 4 when the team is slated to play the Seattle Seahawks. During a press conference last week, Ehlinger was asked what he thought about the turn of events.
“Just the perspective that I’ve been able to gain through adversity, through life — things in my life — it’s really put into perspective what we’re on this earth to do,” he said. “And so that keeps football in check for me, in realizing that this is just a game. And as much as everybody here loves it, and as much money that flows into the business and things that happen like that, at the end of the day it is just a sport.”
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The 22-year-old experienced a personal loss this summer when his younger brother Jake died. Ehlinger’s father passed away when he was a teenager.
“You play football … obviously it is our job, but there’s a lot of things that are a lot more important,” he said. “Keeping that in perspective and not making it your life or death is kind of how I keep it in perspective.”
He elaborated more on his comments in a tweet, writing, “Perspective — what is your purpose on this Earth? We will spend a short amount of time here compared to eternity!”
Ehlinger included an image from an open Bible with Matthew 6:20-21 underlined: “But lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.”
UPDATE: Ehlinger will be out for the next 5-6 weeks due to an ACL sprain suffered late in the first half of Friday’s preseason finale against the Detroit Lions.
–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice
