The Indianapolis Colts signed former Philadelphia Eagles backup quarterback Gardner Minshew to a one-year contract worth $3.5 million for the 2023 season on Thursday.
The 26-year-old from Brandon, Mississippi, completed 44 of 76 passes (57.9%) for 663 yards, three touchdowns, three interceptions, seven carries for three yards, and one touchdown in five games, of which two were starts. Minshew spent two seasons in Philadelphia after the Eagles acquired him from the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021 for a sixth-round draft pick.
Minshew completed 85 of 136 passes (62.5%) for 1,102 yards, seven touchdowns, four interceptions, 16 carries for 24 yards, and one touchdown in 9 games, of which four were starts for the Eagles.
The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted Minshew in the sixth round (178th pick) in the 2019 NFL Draft. He played two seasons in Jacksonville completing 501 of 797 (62.9%) passes for 5,530 yards, 37 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, 96 carries for 497 yards, and one touchdown in 23 games, of which 20 were starts.
Collegiately, Minshew played one season at Northwest Mississippi Community College in 2015, completing 223 of 367 (60.8%) passes for 3,288 yards, 28 touchdowns, five interceptions, 37 carries for 33 yards, and three touchdowns in 12 games for the Rangers. He led them to an NJCAA National Championship. He earned Mississippi Bowl Player-of-the-Year honors for his performance in the championship game.
Then, Minshew transferred to East Carolina (2016-17) completing 293 of 506 passes (57.9%) for 3,487 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 17 games, of which seven were starts for the Pirates. Afterward, Minshew transferred to Washington State in 2018.
He completed 468 of 662 passes (70.7%) for 4,776 yards, 38 touchdowns, nine interceptions, 58 carries for 119 yards, and four touchdowns in 13 games for the Cougars. He was named Pac-12 Conference Offensive Player of the Year and to the All-Pac-12 First Team. In addition, he was named Alamo Bowl Offensive MVP after completing 35 of 49 (71.4%) passes for 299 yards, two touchdowns, six carries for 16 yards, and one touchdown in a 28-26 win over Iowa State.
