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Source: Colts Starting Rookie Riley Leonard at Houston
Rookie Riley Leonard gets his first NFL start to help the Colts evaluate future quarterback depth after Daniel Jones’ season-ending Achilles injury.
- On Dec 30, 2025, the Indianapolis Colts will start rookie Riley Leonard in Week 18 at Houston after choosing him over Philip Rivers, confirming the decision Tuesday.
- After three straight losses with Rivers and playoff elimination Saturday, the Indianapolis Colts shifted to evaluating quarterbacks as injuries to Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson opened Leonard's path upward.
- Leonard arrived as a sixth-round pick from Notre Dame with limited NFL snaps, finishing his Week 14 performance 18-for-29 for 145 yards with a rushing touchdown and interception.
- If Leonard performs well, it could complicate the team's offseason quarterback pecking order and spark a 2026 training-camp battle with Richardson for the backup role.
- Philip Rivers unretired to join the Colts and started three games in which the team lost all three, he said `no regrets` about playing, and coach Shane Steichen remained noncommittal on the starter until Tuesday.
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Source: Colts starting rookie Riley Leonard at Houston
INDIANAPOLIS – The football’s in Riley Leonard’s hands. The rookie quarterback will make his first career start Sunday when the Indianapolis Colts close their disappointing season at Houston, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. Coach Shane Steichen said Monday there would be internal discussions regarding whether to stick with veteran Philip Rivers [...]
·Indianapolis, United States
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Rockdale Citizen & Newton Citizen+2 Reposted by 2 other sources
Report: Second act over for Philip Rivers; Colts to start Riley Leonard
The Indianapolis Colts will start 23-year-old rookie quarterback Riley Leonard over 44-year-old Philip Rivers in Sunday's season finale at Houston, ESPN reported Tuesday.
·Georgia, United States
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Total News Sources13
Leaning Left3Leaning Right0Center6Last UpdatedBias Distribution67% Center
Bias Distribution
- 67% of the sources are Center
67% Center
L 33%
C 67%
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