Big decision made on Philip Rivers for Colts’ Week 18 farewell

The Indianapolis Colts are already looking to the future and have made their Week 18 quarterback call, effectively closing the book on Philip Rivers and his unexpected return.

With playoff elimination confirmed, head coach Shane Steichen will start rookie Riley Leonard on Sunday against the Houston Texans, according to ESPN sources, shifting focus away from short-term survival and toward long-term evaluation.

Colts end season without Rivers

Rivers was signed earlier this month after injuries sidelined both Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson, leaving Indianapolis thin at quarterback. Steichen looked to Rivers’ familiarity with the system and leadership while the Colts remained on the edge of the AFC playoff race.

That gamble failed to change the trajectory. Indianapolis went 0–3 in Rivers’ starts. While the offense stayed functional, the results never followed.

Rivers’ numbers and what comes next

Rivers completed 63 percent of his passes for 544 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. Solid, but unspectacular, and not enough to justify extending the experiment.

Leonard, a sixth-round pick from Notre Dame, will now make his first career start. Steichen framed the decision as developmental, prioritizing future clarity over sentiment.

Rivers, a Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalist for 2026, will not be eligible again until 2031 after dipping his toe back into the game.

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