Overview
- Head coach Shane Steichen confirmed Leonard will start Sunday at Houston, with Philip Rivers moving to the bench for the season finale.
- Rivers went 0-3 after unretiring, completing 63% of his passes for 544 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions, and said he has no regrets about returning.
- Leonard, a 2025 sixth-round pick from Notre Dame, will make his first NFL start after four appearances in relief this season.
- Steichen said Anthony Richardson will not be activated from injured reserve; practice-squad quarterback Seth Henigan has a good chance to be Leonard’s primary backup.
- Eliminated after sliding from 8-2 to 8-8, the Colts are prioritizing evaluation in Week 18; Rivers is expected to return to high-school coaching and his Hall of Fame eligibility now resets to 2031.