Longtime backup Hoyer prepares for 1st start with Colts

Brian Hoyer bounced around the NFL for more than a decade Justin Houston Jersey.Hes suited up for seven different franchises, made starts with five different teams and mastered the art of excelling as a longtime backup quarterback.The job requires picking up new offenses quickly sometimes even without practice. Now the 34-year-old veteran is preparing to make his 38th career start on Sunday, this time for the Indianapolis Colts, hes putting all those lessons to work one more time. For me its like anything, you always take one offense you know and you revert to that, Hoyer said Wednesday, fully aware he may still be coming off the bench against the Miami Dolphins. You say this play here, we call it a different word but its the same play. Its kind of like learning a language, like Italian and Spanish are pretty similar so you can sort of figure it out.Hoyers ability to interpret terminology on the fly is a big reason hes thrived in this role for 11 NFL seasons.Last weekend was a perfect example of what makes Hoyer so valuable.Hoyer was pressed into service when Jacoby Brissett went down with an injured left knee. Hed taken almost no practice snaps with the Colts starters since signing the team in early September and had limited knowledge of the Colts playbook.Hoyers first pass went for an 11-yard touchdown to Jack Doyle. And though Hoyer later threw an interception that was returned 96 yards for a score , he also moved the Colts into position for the go-ahead field goal with 114 left at Pittsburgh only to watch Adam Vinatieri shank the 43-yarder wide left.The final numbers were solid 17 of 26, 168 yards, three touchdowns and one interception with a rating of 105.9. But the overall performance was better than anyone could have anticipated given the circumstances.It was awesome to see him play. Some of the things that he did like I said Sunday I knew I wouldnt have done https://www.coltsgoodsstore.com/191-Colts_Demichael_Harris_Jersey, but he made a lot of great throws Xavier Grimble Jersey, Brissett said. He did a good job of taking command. So yeah, I thought he did pretty well.Coach Frank Reich gave Hoyer rave reviews, too.Indy may need Hoyer to replicate that performance this weekend, too.Brissett was limited in practice Wednesday with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee, giving Hoyer his first significant practice snaps. No decision has yet been made about whether to start Brissett or Hoyer, who was released by New England at the end of the preseason.Were going to rely on him , were going to rely on the doctors, were all going to have to get together on it https://www.coltsgoodsstore.com/9-Limited, Reich said. We dont want to lose him for the long haul by trying to be a hero. But Jacoby is old school. This guy is as tough as they come and weve got to do the right thing for him and our team.Clearly, Hoyer learned some valuable lessons playing behind Tom Brady and for Bill Belichick all those years in New England.He studies and works like the starter every week. Hell provide the Colts coaches with a list of what he likes and what hes comfortable with in the game plan. Hell be ready to perform on a moments notice and he expects to play well enough to win if the call comes.And if he does need help sorting things out against the Dolphins , Brissett will be right there to help.I think the first ball I ever threw to Zach Pascal was a 17-yarder on the sideline Sunday, Hoyer said. But having Jacoby there is great because even though Ive played longer than him, Im learning about this offense from him.