Gardner Minshew is part Kenny Powers and part Shane Falco. Josh Dobbs can learn something from Gardner Minshew’s journey. Dobbs’ Linsanity-esque run feels like it’s reaching its inevitable denouement, but he still has a long career ahead of him in one form or another.
Minshew also knows what it feels like to be in the moment. After the Minshew Mania hype died down, Jacksonville drafted Trevor Lawrence and Minshew spent much of the last few years holding clipboards behind a glass case. Only in emergencies can he throw passes in live action games. Now he’s chasing Lawrence and those same Jags in the AFC South race with five games remaining.
When he steps back, Minshew is random. On a third-down play Sunday afternoon, Minshew overthrew a wide-open Alec Pierce in the back of the end zone. He also dug into the pocket and got a pass on a two-point conversion hit in the air by Zach Moss and came back the other way for a safety. Amani hooker for a Titans score. Earlier in the half, Minshew missed a deep ball to Pierce that would have resulted in a touchdown. Instead, the Colts settled for three.
The fact that Indianapolis has a backup capable of surging is already a win after the quarterback debacles they’ve endured since Andrew Luck retired. The New York Jets or Cleveland Browns would do anything for a daredevil starter who could liven up their passing attacks and take the occasional downs that come with it. Instead, they are both offensive zombies supported by suffocating defenses. With ownership acting like a jerk and Jonathan Taylor in and out of the lineup, Minshew has been the constant holding these shaky Colts together. While the New York Jets eliminated Tim Boyles, the The Steelers turned to Mitch Trubiskyand the Cleveland Browns were forced to turn to 38-year-old Joe Flacco, Indianapolis’ investment in Minshew is paying off.
On Sunday afternoon, Minshew tore through the Tennessee Titans defense through the air for 300 yards and two touchdowns in a victory that boosted the Colts’ playoff aspirations. In overtime, Minshew threw a deep and precise ball in Alec Pierce’s Attic midway through overtime that put Indianapolis inside the 5-yard line. Two plays later, Minshew connected with Michael Pittman for the game-winning touchdown. In the end, Minshew got the job done when it mattered most. Don’t look now, but Indianapolis grabs one of the last playoff spots in the AFC.
Minshew was expected to spend the season as if he had the final two to back up young sensation, Anthony Richardson, after following Shane Steichen to Indianapolis. A slew of injuries, including a season-ending shoulder injury, derailed those plans. After falling mid-season, Minshew is peaking at just the right time.
Minshew is a walking football miracle. Thanks to two recruitments that fell through due to unforeseen circumstances, a trip through JUCO, then Troy, then Washington State and turned a single breakthrough season into a long-term career as a sixth-round pick. Minshew should have transitioned to his football afterlife a long time ago, just like Indianapolis’ season was supposed to be DOA after Richardson’s injury. He brought some of that miracle football to Indy. Now it’s a matter of seeing how far he can take them.
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