Colts to make huge tactical gamble in Week 18 Texans showdown
The Indianapolis Colts are reportedly looking to switch things up for their clash against the Texans.
As the 2025 NFL regular season winds down, the Indianapolis Colts have chosen to push all of their chips to the centre of the table and gamble their final game on a bold move that proves just how tense things - and inconsequential, if you want to be all existential about it - are after a season of unmet expectations.
With nothing left to play for in terms of postseason hopes, the Colts are expected to start rookie quarterback Riley Leonard in Sunday’s season finale at the Houston Texans.
This decision is obviously a clear shift away from the sentimental but ultimately failed story of veteran Phillip Rivers’ short-lived comeback and points toward Indianapolis focusing on the future.
Riley Leonard will likely start over Philip Rivers at QB for the Colts next week, per @RapSheet. pic.twitter.com/6SARftqaHN
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) December 28, 2025
The Colts’ season has been defined by upheaval at quarterback. Starter Daniel Jones went down with a torn Achilles midway through the year, and fan-favourite Anthony Richardson has spent most of the season on injured reserve after an bone fracture.
In response, the team brought Rivers, the 44-year-old former star, out of retirement for a surprise three-game stretch. While his performance was solid enough, completing a respectable share of his passes and showing some spark despite the team’s losses, Rivers finished 0-3 with Indianapolis and now appears set to relinquish the starting role one last time.
Leonard, a sixth-round pick out of Notre Dame in the 2025 draft, has yet to make a significant impact in his rookie campaign. Before this weekend he had seen limited action, primarily in mop-up duty and late-game situations.
Philip Rivers from Sunday on Riley Leonard.
— Kevin Bowen (@KBowen1070) December 30, 2025
Rivers has been a mentor to Leonard prior to being Colts teammates. pic.twitter.com/IYHKHYL5j8
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Yet with the season already decided, the Colts see the finale as a chance to get a closer look at him against live NFL competition. For a franchise that needs answers at quarterback, this is more than just the last game of the year, it is a low-risk audition for someone who could be part of the club’s long-term plans.
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