Dec 13, 2020; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Detailed view of an Indianapolis Colts helmet. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports.
The Indianapolis Colts face an extended absence from rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson after a shoulder injury, meaning the club might need an additional quarterback option behind Gardner Minshew.
And don’t look now, but that assignment could land at the doorstep of former Minnesota Vikings QB Kellen Mond.
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo tweeted Tuesday morning, “With Anthony Richardson sidelined, sources say the Colts worked out a group of veteran QBs, including Kellen Mond, Ian Book, Holton Ahlers, and Trace McSorley.”
Mond also auditioned for the Carolina Panthers roster two weeks ago when Bryce Young was temporarily injured but did not land a job.
The young passer last spent time with the Browns before rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson effectively stole his job during the preseason, and the Texas A&M alumnus has lived on the free-agent wire since.
The Vikings evaluated Mond in 2022 training camp and preseason, leading to a trade involving Nick Mullens from the Las Vegas Raiders. The moment Mullens set foot in Eagan, Minnesota, he became the Vikings QB2 without having to toss a preseason pass.
Mond was drafted by the Vikings former leadership regime in 2021 as a possible contingency plan for QB1 Kirk Cousins. Fans endlessly debate whether Cousins is actually a worthwhile franchise quarterback, so the addition of Mond was viewed as a mighty what-if.
But Minnesota waived Mond on August 31st, 2022, and he joined the Browns roster via waivers the next day. He didn’t play any regular season snaps for the 2022 Browns — even with Deshaun Watson suspended for 11 games — and now hopes to latch onto a team like the Colts.
Mond has attempted three regular season passes as a pro, all with the Vikings in 2021. He is mobile, has a decent pocket presence, and has a quick release but is criticized for poor decision-making and a robotic rhythm.
The Browns featured Mond as a starter during the NFL’s first preseason game of 2023, known as the Hall of Fame game, and it didn’t go well — at all. Mond looked terrible against reservist players, while the aforementioned Thompson-Robinson shined, evidently punching his ticket out of Cleveland.
After Richardson and Minshew on the Colts depth chart, Sam Ehlinger is listed as QB3, and Indianapolis has no quarterbacks on the practice squad, where Mond would likely live if signed.
The Colts are 3-2 through five games and share a first-place tie in the AFC South with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.