Riley

Leonard

Rapoport’s segment broke no news, but he has ostensibly been working the phones since last night’s pre-game report. Rivers is taking “some” first-team reps and, per Rapoport, is throwing the football “well.” Rookie QB Riley Leonard would seemingly have a better chance of rushing his way to QB2 viability, but the Colts apparently prefer Rivers’ theoretical pocket-passing ability.

Leonard practiced all week after picking up a PCL sprain in his knee in Week 14. Leonard’s QB2 viability is tied directly to his rushing production, and Philip Rivers could be the team’s starter this weekend. Leonard is very difficult to trust as a QB2, even if he does get the start, facing the Seahawks’ elite defense.

Riley Leonard (knee) has practiced in full all week, so it sure seems like he’d be available to go if the Colts wanted him to. Of course, if they really wanted him to go, they probably would not have signed a 44-year-old grandfather in the first place. So there’s that. We’ll likely get a report that Rivers will start at some point in the next 36 hours. He’s not to be trusted in superflex leagues in his first start in five years.

Per Holder, “it isn’t difficult to tell who a team is prepping to start. That player is Rivers.” Whether this helps the pass-catching corps remains to be seen. Rivers has not played football since 2020. One hard hit from a Seahawks pass rusher could send the 44-year-old back to the sofa. Backup QB Riley Leonard suffered a PCL sprain in his knee last week, though he is currently practicing in full. Stay tuned.

Leonard is dealing with a PCL injury, but a full practice to open the week means he should be available for Sunday’s game. Whether he gets the start or not is a different question. Phillip Rivers is now on the team’s practice squad and should take over as the starter sooner rather than later, though he may need a week to get up to speed after five years away from football. Even if Leonard starts, the knee issue could limit his mobility, which was his calling card coming out of college. He will be, at best, a low-end QB2 if he gets the start.

It’s anyone’s guess for now how much Leonard practices after injuring his knee in Week 14’s loss to the Jaguars. Late-week practice participation for Leonard — who threw for 145 yards and an interception against Jacksonville — would suggest he can suit up in eek 15 against Seattle. Philip Rivers, 44, who signed with the Colts on Wednesday, could get the starting nod if Steichen determines Leonard isn’t ready to play. Both QBs would be big downgrades for every fantasy relevant player in the Colts offense.

“He can still spin it,” a Colts official told ESPN. Another team source added, “I’d still take him at this stage over most 22- to 23-year-old [backups].” Rivers during his workout with the Colts threw on the run and worked the entire route tree. His familiarity with head coach Shane Steichen’s offensive system could land Rivers, 44, under center in Week 15 against the Seahawks. Riley Leonard is dealing with a knee injury and is considered week to week after subbing in for Daniel Jones (Achilles) in Week 14 against the Jaguars. Rivers — a recent grandfather — is not yet in typical NFL shape, however. “He needs to get in football shape, but there’s no question he can throw it,” a team source told ESPN. “Sources maintain that how Rivers handles his first week of practice will determine whether he plays Sunday.”

The 44-year-old Rivers signed with the Colts on Tuesday and could be immediately thrust into the starting role. With Daniel Jones out for the season, Anthony Richardson still dealing with an eye injury, and Riley Leonard now dealing with a “Grade 1 PCL injury”, Rapoport says there is “a very real chance that Rivers is the starting quarterback for the Colts this Sunday.” We will see how Rivers practices having been out of the league for nearly five seasons, but the Colts may be making the move to start him as soon as Week 15 against the Seahawks.

Leonard has a knee injury that was diagnosed after the game that Steichen said he is “working through.” He played to the very end of the Colts snaps against the Jaguars, so either he played on it or injured it on his final run to the end zone. The lone remaining quarterback on the roster is, you guessed it, Brett Rypien. We’ll probably get a better sense of how much urgency the Colts have based on how many quarterback workouts get scheduled this week, but this is getting dire in a hurry.

NFL Insider Jordan Schultz was the first to confirm the news. It’s a brutal end to the season for Jones, who was enjoying a career year in his first season with the Colts while leading the team to an 8-4 start to the season. Jones joined the Colts on a one-year deal this offseason and beat out Anthony Richardson for the starting job in camp. Jones threw for 3,101-19-8 in 13 games this season, completing a career-high 68 percent of his passes. He was on pace for a career-best 4,055 passing yards before going down, and now he enters an interesting offseason. Jones turns 29 next offseason and is likely facing a 9-12-month rehab, depending on the severity of his injury, and seems unlikely to be ready for the start of next season. His performance was the best the Colts have experienced in the Shane Steichen era, and the Colts won’t be in a position to draft a QB high in next year’s draft without orchestrating a trade. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Jones re-up with the Colts, but the deal he receives could look much different than what he was hoping for before his injury.