If you’re just a casual Indianapolis Colts fan, chances are you have no clue who Jason Bean is. He’s certainly not a famous Colt like Anthony Richardson, Jonathan Taylor, or DeForest Buckner. However, he might earn a spot on the team’s 53-man roster this year.
Bean, a quarterback out of Kansas, was not selected in this past April’s NFL draft. Yet, the Colts signed him as an undrafted free agent. If he shines brightly during the preseason, he has a chance to beat out a couple of players for Indy’s No. 3 quarterback spot.
This Exciting Rookie Might Make The Indianapolis Colts Roster
Jason Bean’s Football Career
Jason Bean started his college career at the University of North Texas. In his three years with the Mean Green, he threw for 1,307 yards and 17 touchdowns while rushing for 440 yards and five TDs.
Bean transferred to Kansas for the 2021 campaign. He would spend three seasons with the Jayhawks, passing for 4662 yards and 38 touchdowns. He also ran for 902 yards and nine scores. Last season, Bean led Kansas to a victory over UNLV in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. He threw for 449 yards and six touchdowns, powering the Jayhawks to a 49-36 win.
This summer, Bean was selected first overall by the Memphis Showboats in the 2024 UFL college draft. The draft pool consisted of only undrafted players from the 2024 draft class. Although the Showboats drafted Bean, the Colts still hold his contract rights.
Can He Beat Out Sam Ehlinger and Kedon Slovis?
Anthony Richardson is the Colts’ starting quarterback. The former Florida Gator played only four games as a rookie last year due to injury. Yet, he’s healthy now and ready to show why he was the fourth overall pick in the 2023 draft.
Joe Flacco, who signed with Indianapolis this offseason, will serve as Richardson’s primary backup. The Super Bowl XLVII MVP is the perfect mentor, as he has 16 NFL seasons on his resume.
Richardson and Flacco are the Colts’ top-two QBs, but who will earn the No. 3 spot? To win the job, Bean will have to beat out both Sam Ehlinger and Kedon Slovis. Ehlinger is in his fourth year with the Colts, while Slovis is an undrafted free agent, just like Bean.
Jason Bean must put together a fantastic preseason to earn the No. 3 QB spot. He was impressive during Indy’s preseason loss to the Denver Broncos. Bean entered the game in the fourth quarter, replacing Ehlinger and Slovis. He led a scoring drive, completing four of six passes for 51 yards and a touchdown to wide receiver Laquon Treadwell. In addition to his passing, Bean contributed on the ground. He led the Colts in rushing with 24 yards, averaging 6.0 yards per carry. While he did fumble, it was a solid overall performance, especially for someone who wasn’t drafted.
It will be interesting to see how Bean performs against the Arizona Cardinals and Cincinnati Bengals in the final two preseason games. Ehlinger has the best chance to win the job, seeing that he knows coach Shane Steichen’s system. However, don’t be shocked, though, if Bean catches fire and winds up edging Ehlinger and Slovis. He’s an exciting dual-threat QB who could ultimately be an ideal primary backup for Richardson.
Main Image: Michelle Pemberton – USA Today Sports
