INDIANAPOLIS – Charlie Whitehurst has been Matt Hasselbeck's backup before.
Their roles switched briefly in the 2010 regular season finale with Whitehurst saving the Seahawks season.
Hasselbeck was deemed not healthy enough to start in a winner-take-all divisional matchup against the St. Louis Rams. On the line was the winner of the NFC West.
In a Week 17 primetime contest, Whitehurst was 22-of-36 for 192 yards and a touchdown, leading Seattle to a 16-6 playoff-berth victory.
Some five years later, Whitehurst is once again playing behind Hasselbeck, and will be there just in case another team's playoff hopes needs sudden help.
"If something were to happen, my plan is to be there and be ready and help this team win," the 33-year-old Whitehurst said on Monday following his first practice in Indianapolis.
"Obviously, Matt is going to start and has been playing great this year, 2-0. I think all the backup quarterbacks around the league here have appreciated what he's done."
The man known as "Clipboard Jesus" (a nickname he isn't too fond of and has no real idea where it began) faced some uncertainty of his NFL future last Wednesday.
Tennessee waived Whitehurst after he started five games last year for the Titans (including two against the Colts). For the first time in his nine-year career, Whitehurst was hitting the waiver wire.
It didn't take too long to find out his next NFL stop.
"You're not sure what's going to happen," Whitehurst said of the initial insecurity. "Then you get to have a chance to help a darn good football team, and that's what I'm here to do."
Whitehurst arrived in Indianapolis last Thursday night and has been consuming the playbook ever since.
With some help from Andrew Luck out at practice on Monday, Whitehurst said he is familiar with some of the West Coast terms from his time with Seattle.
He also brings some new life to the quarterback's room.
"Very handsome guy, good looking, very stylish," Hasselbeck said with a grin of his new position-mate. "A lot of fun in the quarterback room, good player and everyone likes him.
"I wasn't sure how (finding a backup) was going to shake out. I knew they were probably going to bring somebody in. It was fortunate for us Tennessee let him go, and we were able to get him."
