Report: Colts' Leonard expected to start Week 18 over Rivers

Rookie quarterback Riley Leonard is expected to start the Indianapolis Colts' last game of the season Sunday against the Houston Texans, sources told ESPN's Stephen Holder and Jeremy Fowler.

Philip Rivers has started the last three games since coming out of retirement. Leonard filled in for Daniel Jones after he suffered a torn Achilles in Week 14. The Colts are 8-8 following a six-game losing streak and have been eliminated from playoff contention.

Rivers went 0-3, completing 58 of 92 passes for 544 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions. His best game was on Monday Night Football, where he threw for over 275 yards with two scores against the San Francisco 49ers.

It was the 44-year-old's first game action since the 2020 season. He'd coached high school football for the previous half-decade after retiring in 2020 following a one-year stint with the Colts. Rivers reunited with Indianapolis head coach Shane Steichen, who'd been on the offensive coaching staff for a few years toward the end of Rivers' time with the Los Angeles Chargers. Steichen and Rivers remained friends and spoke frequently after Rivers retired.

Rivers was a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's class of 2026, but his five-year waiting period will restart once he retires again since he joined a team's active roster.

Leonard, 23, was selected in the sixth round of the 2025 draft out of Notre Dame. He led the Fighting Irish to the national championship game in his final year at college. Leonard has completed 18 passes for 145 yards with one rushing touchdown and two interceptions this season.