Mike Wells, ESPN Staff Writer 7y

Ex-Colt Reggie Wayne questions team's quarterback play without Andrew Luck

INDIANAPOLIS -- The lack of good quarterback play by the Indianapolis Colts without starter Andrew Luck has one of their former players calling for a change.

Former receiver Reggie Wayne, who spent 14 seasons with the Colts, went to Twitter and voiced his opinion about the current quarterback situation during the first half of Indianapolis' preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday. Scott Tolzien is starting while Luck (shoulder) remains on the physically unable to perform list.

The Colts, despite knowing there was a possibility Luck wouldn't be ready for their Week 1 game at the Los Angeles Rams, decided against heavily pursuing a quarterback to push Tolzien for snaps during the offseason. Colts owner Jim Irsay said Aug. 13 that they had talks with an unnamed quarterback but didn't sign him because of the money that player was looking for. Irsay also said that quarterback wasn't Colin Kaepernick, the best quarterback still on the free-agent market.

Tolzien hasn't done much in the preseason to engender confidence that he can run the offense effectively if he's forced to start in place of Luck during the regular season. Tolzien is 12-of-19 for 94 yards in the preseason. More importantly, the Colts have only scored three points with him on the field.

"We can't move the ball down the field, we can't get first downs," coach Chuck Pagano said about the starting offense's performance Saturday. "It's pitiful. I don't care who's in there. We've got to execute, we've got to be efficient. You've got to be able to move the ball."

Meanwhile, Stephen Morris continues to be effective when he plays despite being demoted to third string behind Tolzien and undrafted rookie free agent Phillip Walker. Morris was 11-of-15 for 111 yards and a touchdown against the Cowboys. Morris is 24-of-35 for 205 yards and a touchdown in the preseason.

"Stephen Morris, to his credit, comes in again and moves the team," Pagano said. "He's really good in there. I'm proud of him, what he's done."

Wayne went back on Twitter later in the game and said Morris should get more playing time.

Questions about the Colts' quarterback play will likely continue until Luck returns and takes control of the unit.

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