5 things to know about Colts quarterback Jacob Eason

Philip Rivers retired Wednesday. The Colts are down to two quarterbacks from the 2020 active roster and Jacob Eason is the only one under contract. Here's what to know about him:

He was a five-star recruit in high school

Eason attended Lake Stevens High School in Washington and earned a 0.9975 composite grade from 247 sports. He committed to Georgia in 2014, two years before the year he graduated in 2016. 

He spent his final college year at Washington

Eason earned the starting job as a freshman at Georgia, completing 55.1% of his passes for 2,430 yards with 16 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. But Eason got injured and Jake Fromm won the starting job in 2017.

After playing the first two years at Georgia, Eason transferred to Washington and sat out the 2018 season due to NCAA Transfer rules. He started in 2019 and threw for 3,132 yards and 23 touchdowns.

He was drafted in the fourth round by the Colts

Eason was given a second-round projection by NFL.com due to his "elite size and arm talent," but he fell to the fourth round on draft day. On draft day, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported that many teams were scared off from Eason due to questions centering around his work ethic and accountability, though no names were attached to those concerns. 

"My job is to go in there, prove those stories are false and go in there and learn from a great coaching staff and get in there with an outstanding team," Eason said during a Zoom videoconference after he was drafted. "I’m going to go in there as soon as this virus is calmed down and go in there and compete my nuts off, go in there and prove myself as a work horse and a leader and a good football player.

The Colts selected him with the 122nd pick overall. The Colts were very involved with Eason in the predraft process.

“I think I talked to them more than any other team,” Eason said.

GM Chris Ballard said last week that the team has been pleased with Eason's progress but did not expect him to be the backup next season.

“I visited with him for about 30 minutes the other day and I asked him, ‘How did you grow? What did you learn?’" Ballard said. “He had a great answer, just watching Philip (Rivers) and Jacoby (Brissett) and Frank (Reich) and Nick (Sirianni) and Marcus (Brady) talk ball, how they carried themselves, how they worked, how they were professionals. All of that was something he absorbed.”

He beat out Chad Kelly for third-string QB

Eason entered a crowded quarterback room in Indianapolis. He was the fourth QB on a roster that just added Philip Rivers and already rostered Jacoby Brissett and Chad Kelly. 

“He was a fourth-round pick,” Ballard said after taking Eason. “We didn’t move up to the first pick of the draft. Jacob’s got talent. He’s got to work and he’s got to earn it. … Let’s slow our roll a little bit in terms of tagging this guy as the next messiah walking into town."

Kelly, who had a few chances with the Colts, was turning heads in training camp. But Eason ultimately won the chance to stick with Indianapolis, and Kelly was cut in September.

The Colts are intrigued by his talent

Eason's talent throwing the ball jumps out almost immediately. Though he hasn't earned a single live rep without a preseason in 2020, the Colts remain high on his development over the course of the year. Though it is still early.

“We’ve still got to find out a lot more about Jacob Eason,” Colts general manager Chris Ballard said.