Fans of Philip Rivers‘ comeback story will have at least one more chance to observe it. The Colts’ Week 16 loss has all but buried them in the playoff race, but Shane Steichen will not turn to one of his younger passers for Week 17.
Rivers will start against the Jaguars on Sunday, the third-year HC said (via ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler). Sixth-round rookie Riley Leonard is a healthy option on Indianapolis’ bench, and Anthony Richardson is in the IR-return window. It is not known if Richardson will return this season (or play for the Colts again), but Leonard is signed through the 2028 season.
Tied to the veteran minimum, Rivers submitted impressive work against the 49ers — all things considered — and finished 23 of 35 for 277 yards and two touchdowns. While the 44-year-old QB also threw a pick-six to help San Francisco to a blowout win, this is already one of the most memorable comebacks in modern sports history.
A national audience observed Rivers’ form Monday, and he had the Colts in an early shootout with the favored 49ers. Finding Alec Pierce for two touchdowns early, Rivers had surpassed his Seahawks showing for yardage in the first quarter. The 49ers largely bottled up Jonathan Taylor, leaving Rivers to do more work. Although deep shots did not work out for the recently unretired Rivers, he made plenty happen on shorter throws.
This Rivers human interest story notwithstanding, the Colts are passing up a chance to look at Leonard as a starter here. While it is understandable Steichen will start Rivers while the team is still standing in the playoff race, ESPN’s FPI gives Indianapolis a 2% chance to make the postseason.
Leonard should remain in Indy’s plans as a backup option for 2026; Richardson’s path is cloudier. The Colts parked the former No. 4 overall pick on the bench throughout Daniel Jones‘ healthy stretch this season, after the two had competed for the job. Jones winning the camp competition did not go over too well with Richardson in the first place. The erratic Florida product later suffered an orbital fracture in a freak locker-room accident. While Richardson is back at practice, Rivers starting again does not point to an activation from IR this week. If Richardson is activated for Week 18, who the Colts turn to in what could be a meaningless game will still bring intrigue.
If the Colts are eliminated, Steichen would presumably give stronger consideration to starting Leonard or Richardson in Week 18. Rivers, who had said he had not given strong consideration to an unretirement in a few years, all but certainly has two games remaining as a Colt. He has delayed his Hall of Fame clock by five years. While the former Chargers mainstay is not a lock to reach Canton, he has certainly tacked on a memorable ending — and at least three TD passes — to an 18-year career.