Jeff Saturday defended his clock management in the final minutes of the Indianapolis Colts' loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night.

Saturday decided against taking a timeout until 30 seconds remained in regulation of the 24-17 loss because he "didn't feel like time was really of the essence at that moment."

The Colts were in a bit of a frantic situation, facing fourth-and-3 from the Pittsburgh 37-yard line at the two-minute warning. After converting, Matt Ryan was sacked for a 7-yard loss on first down then scrambled for 14 yards on second down.

The second-down play was snapped with 59 seconds remaining, but the Colts elected not to call a timeout despite possessing all three of their timeouts. They instead used a slow approach, snapping the ball late into the play clock then handing the ball to Jonathan Taylor, who was stopped for no gain on a third-and-3.

A timeout was then called.

"I thought we had a good play," Saturday said. "And I felt like we would get it. Obviously, we didn't do a great job [blocking] on the backside, so it's worse. But I felt good about the call before. Felt like we had time, we would have timeouts afterwards. We were in striking distance. So, I never felt like the pressure of needing the timeout.

"We just didn't execute it."

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay pushed back on recent characterizations of his handling of the team's coaching change and firing of coach Frank Reich, telling ESPN, "It's not personal. It's the very opposite from being personal."

Irsay's comments were prompted in part by statements made by Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni, a former Colts assistant and Reich mentee, who offered passionate postgame comments after Sunday's win over the Colts in Indianapolis and was captured on video after the 17-16 victory yelling into the Lucas Oil Stadium crowd, "That s--- was for Frank Reich."

The Fritz Pollard Alliance, an organization whose mission is to promote diversity in the NFL, wants to take a closer look at the Indianapolis Colts' hiring of Jeff Saturday.

The organization released a statement reading, "In light of the recent interim head coaching hire in Indianapolis, the FPA has initiated an inquiry with the NFL into whether this hiring process conformed with NFL Hiring Guidelines for naming an interim Head Coach."

League spokesperson Brian McCarthy told ESPN after Saturday was named to the position on Nov. 7 that interim head coach appointments are not subject to the Rooney Rule, which requires NFL teams to interview at least two minority candidates for head-coaching positions.

McCarthy said the team will be required to conduct a search that complies with the Rooney Rule after the season when seeking to make a permanent hire.

Derek Carr, rocking back and forth at the podium with tears in his eyes and a halting voice, apologized for being "emotional" in the wake of the Las Vegas Raiders' 25-20 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium.

Jeff Saturday began his day with phone calls to his wife and son back home in Georgia.

By the time he departed for Allegiant Stadium on Sunday, the newly appointed Colts interim head coach felt an odd sense of tranquility about his debut.

"In all honesty and in all truth, I felt very at peace," he said.  

With Saturday resigned to accept any potential outcome, the Colts went out and made him 1-0 as a head coach with a 25-20 victory over the Raiders, taking them to 4-5-1 and giving Saturday some needed credibility with a locker room full of players and a coaching staff blindsided by his stunning hire six days ago.

Jim Irsay says he's open to another change at quarterback as the Indianapolis Colts prepare for the second half of the season.

"We don't tank in Indianapolis," Irsay said.

Frank Reich moved from Matt Ryan to Sam Ehlinger and said the latter would remain the starter for 2022. With Reich fired, new coach Jeff Saturday said Ehlinger would start in Week 10.

"That's the most absurd thing I've ever heard, that we're tanking," Irsay said amid reports that the team's moves have been with an eye on draft position.

"That's bulls---. We're in this thing; 9-7-1 gets us (into the playoffs), no question about it. … We're not tanking the season. Whoever says these things, that we're not playing Matt (Ryan) because (of an effort to tank), that's all bulls---. That's not true. … We're going to do what it takes to win. I don't know who people think we are. They don't know us. We don't tank in Indianapolis."

Parks Frazier will call offensive players for the Indianapolis Colts under Jeff Saturday.

Frazier is passing game specialist/assistant quarterbacks coach of the colts.

The role was previously held by former head coach Frank Reich, who was fired by the team on Monday.

Frazier has an undergraduate degree in computer science and is considered among the leaders on the staff in the use of technology and data. He also has worked closely behind the scenes the past year-plus with Sam Ehlinger, who will continue to be the starting quarterback.

Interim coach Jeff Saturday says Sam Ehlinger will remain the starting quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts.

The Colts face the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 10.

Frank Reich had announced on Oct. 24 that Ehlinger would be the team's starter for the remainder of the season, but he was fired on Monday.

The Indianapolis Colts have hired Jeff Saturday as interim head coach.

Saturday was a six-time Pro Bowl selection at center for the Colts.

Saturday has been a consultant for the Colts and was also head coach for the Hebron Christian Academy in Georgia.

The Indianapolis Colts have fired Frank Reich as head coach.

Reich was hired by the Colts in 2018 and had a 40-33 record overall with a 3-5-1 mark the season.

The Colts have had a quarterback carousel since Andrew Luck's retirement with Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan entering the past three seasons as the starter.