Head coach Matt Rhule said Wednesday that Ryan will be benched in favor of backup Philip Rivers, who will make his first start for the Colts. “This is a decision we made as an organization,” Rhule said. “I told Matt Ryan this morning that Philip Rivers will be our starter going forward.”

The move comes as a surprise given that Ryan was active for the Colts’ Week 7 game against the Detroit Lions and is not listed on the team’s injury report.

However, Rhule said the decision was based on “performance” and not Ryan’s health. ” Matt Ryan is healthy,” Rhule said. “This is a football decision.”

Coach Matt Eberflus said the move was based purely on football and not Ryan’s recent injury, which kept him out of practice last week. “This is a football decision,” Eberflus said. “It has nothing to do with Matt’s injury. Matt’s been working extremely hard to get back from his injury, and he’s done a great job.”

Ryan, who signed with the Colts in the offseason, has started every game this season. He has completed 60.5 percent of his passes for 2,285 yards, 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Rivers, who signed with the Colts in August, has appeared in four games this season, completing 26 of 44 passes for 363 yards and two touchdowns.

Head coach Matt Nagy said the move had nothing to do with Ryan’s recent injury. “This has zero to do with Matt’s injury,” Nagy said. “He’s healthy, he’s good to go. This is strictly based off of Matt’s play.”

Nagy added that the decision was made “purely on football,” and that the team needed to make a change to give themselves the best chance to win. “I have all the faith in the world in Matt Ryan,” Nagy said. “This is not an indictment on Matt Ryan by any stretch.”

Backup quarterback Chase Daniel will start in Ryan’s place.