Colts to start Matt Hasselbeck with Andrew Luck sidelined

Indianapolis Colts backup quarterback Matt Hasselbeck will start tonight's game against the Houston Texans with starter Andrew Luck sidelined with a partially dislocated shoulder. The Colts re-signed Josh Johnson as their third quarterback. He would be the backup if Luck is scratched. Hasselbeck started during the Colts' 16-13 overtime win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, completing 30 of 47 passes for 282 yards and a touchdown for an 87.4 passer rating. In 17 NFL seasons, Hasselbeck, a former starter for the Seattle Seahawks who's been the backup in Indianapolis for the past three seasons including this year, has become known for his accuracy and ability to read defenses. Hasselbeck has completed 60.5 percent of his career throws for 35,230 yards, 204 touchdowns, 148 interceptions and has an 82.4 passer rating. In Hasselbeck's last full season as a starter, in 2011 with the Tennessee Titans, he started every game and passed for 3,571 yards, 18 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Luck hasn't been nearly as sharp as previous seasons and has five touchdowns and seven interceptions and passing for 753 yards with a 65.1 passer rating. That's even lower than Texans quarterback Ryan Mallett, who has a 65.3 passer rating and hast three touchdowns and three interceptions. Follow me on Twitter: @AaronWilson_NFL Aaron Wilson covers the Texans for The Houston Chronicle.
Aaron Wilson
Aaron Wilson covers the NFL for National Football Post, his second stint at the Post. He has previously written for Pro Football Talk and FOX Sports-Scout. Entering his 13th year covering the Baltimore Ravens, he's a beat writer for The Baltimore Sun. Wilson has also covered the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans.

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