Overview
- ESPN reports the Colts will start 23-year-old Riley Leonard against the Texans in Houston, giving the sixth-round rookie his first NFL start.
- Philip Rivers went 0-3 after coming out of retirement in mid-December, completing 63% of his passes for 544 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions.
- Indianapolis has dropped six straight after an 8-2 start and enters Week 18 at 8-8 with no postseason path.
- Leonard, a Notre Dame product, previously completed 18 of 29 passes for 145 yards with one interception and scored a rushing touchdown in relief duty.
- Rivers said he has no regrets, plans to return to high school coaching, and his brief comeback resets his Hall of Fame eligibility to 2031.