Frank Reich’s attempt to fix the Indianapolis Colts’ sputtering offense failed so now team owner Jim Irsay is turning to another trusted name – former All-Pro center Jeff Saturday.

The Colts made both announcements about one hour apart Monday.

They come less than 24 hours after one of the worst offensive performances in team history.

Colts officials have scheduled an evening news conference to address the decision.

Saturday’s only coaching experience came at a Georgia high school and he’s served most recently as a team consultant and ESPN commentator. He’s a member of Indy’s Ring of Honor, played a key role in helping reach an agreement to settle the 2011 NFL lockout and has been a fixture in the Indy community since his rookie season in 1999.

For the Colts (3-5-1), the past few weeks have been a whirlwind.

Reich announced he was benching 2016 league MVP and longtime veteran Matt Ryan in favor of second-year quarterback Sam Ehlinger two weeks ago.

Last Tuesday, Reich fired offensive coordinator Marcus Brady even though Reich was calling the plays. General Manager Chris Ballard also sent running back Nyheim Hines to Buffalo just before last week’s trade deadline.

Now Reich is out in the first midseason coaching change Irsay has made since taking over as owner 25 years ago.

Irsay uncharacteristically declined to take questions following a dismal performance Sunday in which the Colts produced just 121 total yards and 43 net passing yards, the lowest single-game totals by Indy since 1997 against Seattle.

The Colts also went 0 for 14 on third downs, just the second time on record their conversion rate was 0.0%. They allowed nine sacks, the highest single-game total since October 2017, and only the second most in a game since 1981.

But it wasn’t just one game.
Indy has zero points on its opening possession this season and is the league’s only team to enter the fourth quarter trailing in every game in 2022. The result is a league-low 14.7 points per game. And with three straight losses, the Colts postseason hopes are fading.

The hope is that Saturday can find a solution to Indy’s most glaring problem, an offensive line that has allowed a league-high 35 sacks in nine games. It had been one of the league’s top units from 2018 through last season but has been in flux most of this season.

GIANTS: Safety Xavier McKinney injured a hand while on vacation in Mexico during the bye week and will miss a few weeks.

McKinney tweeted about the injury and the Giants confirmed the tweet. New York returns to action Sunday against Houston at MetLife Stadium.

“During our bye week, I went away to Cabo,” McKinney tweeted. “While there, I joined a group for a guided sight-seeing tour on ATVs. Unfortunately, I had an accident and injured my hand. The injury will keep me sidelined for a few weeks. I will do everything I can to get back as quickly as possible so I can contribute to what we’re building here in New York.”

McKinney did not disclose the nature of his injury. The Giants did not know which hand McKinney hurt and the exact nature of the injury.

PANTHERS: Interim coach Steve Wilks fired two of his assistants, less than 24 hours after the team’s embarrassing 42-21 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in which it allowed a franchise-record 35 points in the first half.

Wilks fired cornerbacks coach Evan Cooper and defensive line coach Paul Pasqualoni.

Cooper has been with the Panthers since 2020, while Pasqualoni, the former head coach at Syracuse, joined the Panthers this offseason.

Defensive assistant Bobby Maffei will take on added responsibilities with the defensive backs, with interim defensive coordinator Al Holcomb playing a more prominent role in that area, too. Pass rush specialist Don Johnson and assistant defensive line coach Terrance Knighton will continue to coach the defensive line without Pasqualoni.

BILLS: Josh Allen is nursing a sore right throwing elbow, leaving cause for concern over the Buffalo Bills starter’s status against the NFC North-leading Minnesota Vikings this weekend.

Coach Sean McDermott would only say he’s awaiting the results of tests to determine the severity of the injury sustained a day earlier in a 20-17 loss to the New York Jets.

He said it was premature to say whether Allen could practice this week or play.