The Indianapolis Colts are weighing an emergency option at quarterback as they prepare to play the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on Sunday. Starter Daniel Jones suffered a season-changing Achilles injury, and rookie Riley Leonard left Sunday’s 36-19 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars with a knee problem. The Colts have invited 44-year-old Philip Rivers — who last played in 2020 and logged 16 seasons with the Chargers — for a tryout and could add him to the practice squad if he proves capable. Team and league reports say Rivers might even be available to play against the Seahawks if the Colts need him on short notice.
Key Takeaways
- The Colts lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars 36-19, dropping to 8-5 and into a tie for second in the AFC South.
- Starter Daniel Jones is out with an Achilles injury; rookie Riley Leonard completed 18 of 29 passes for 145 yards before sustaining a knee injury.
- The Colts invited Philip Rivers for a tryout Tuesday; Rivers last played in the NFL in 2020 and has 63,440 career passing yards (seventh all-time).
- Rivers turned 44 on Monday and is a Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalist this year; he has recent working ties to Colts offensive coordinator Shane Steichen.
- ESPN’s reporting says Leonard’s knee is a strained ligament and is considered week-to-week; Anthony Richardson remains on injured reserve with an eye injury.
- Brett Rypien is the only other quarterback currently on the Colts roster; he has four career starts and did not throw a regular-season pass after his 2023 appearance until recently.
- If signed to the practice squad, Rivers would need rapid clearance by the team to be game-eligible on short notice.
Background
The Colts began the season with playoff expectations after key additions and returning veterans, but injuries have repeatedly disrupted their quarterback room. Daniel Jones, acquired in free agency, provided an early boost until his Achilles tear removed him from the lineup. That injury leaves Indianapolis thin at a position already under scrutiny leaguewide for depth and continuity.
Rookie Riley Leonard, a sixth-round pick from Notre Dame, stepped into the role under emergency conditions on Sunday. Leonard’s sudden promotion illustrates how quickly depth charts can shift in the NFL; his second pro game was also the first in which he took significant snaps. Third-year Anthony Richardson, a former top draft pick, remains sidelined on injured reserve with an eye issue and is not available this week.
Main Event
After the Colts’ loss in Jacksonville, multiple outlets reported Indianapolis scheduled a tryout for veteran Philip Rivers on Tuesday. Rivers spent 16 seasons with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers before a brief stint with the Colts in 2020; he has not taken an NFL snap since then but has longstanding familiarity with Shane Steichen, who coached Rivers in San Diego.
The immediate imperative for Indianapolis is straightforward: determine whether any available quarterback can be readied quickly enough to protect the team’s playoff hopes. Rivers’ size of career production — 63,440 passing yards and a 16-season resume — is a major reason he is being considered despite his time away from the league and current role as a high school head coach in Fairhope, Ala.
Coach Shane Steichen acknowledged the team was monitoring Leonard’s knee and said the staff hoped Leonard could play Sunday but would evaluate him through the week. ESPN reported the rookie has a strained knee ligament and is being treated as week-to-week, a timeline that would make a late-week signing or activation feasible if Leonard cannot go.
If Rivers clears the tryout and signs to the practice squad, roster mechanics and paperwork would determine whether the Colts must elevate him to the active roster to be eligible for Sunday’s game. League rules allow rapid movement in emergency situations, but each step must be completed and medically cleared.
Analysis & Implications
Short-term, adding a veteran like Rivers would give Indianapolis an experienced, system-savvy option who can quickly implement or adapt to Steichen’s playbook. Rivers’ prior work with Steichen from 2016-19 at the Chargers reduces the learning curve compared with an unfamiliar veteran. That familiarity is likely the main driver behind the tryout rather than Rivers’ recent absence from the league.
Strategically, the Colts face a trade-off between continuity and readiness. Relying on Riley Leonard promotes development of a young signal-caller but carries immediate injury risk and inexperience in high-stakes moments. Signing Rivers would be an insurance move aimed at stabilizing the offense for a potential playoff push, but it would also mean inserting a quarterback who has not played regular-season football since 2020.
For the Seahawks, the situation is both an opportunity and an uncertainty. Seattle has recently faced multiple rookie starting quarterbacks and posted wins against Tennessee and Minnesota in similar circumstances. Preparing for Rivers would demand a different scouting and game-plan approach than preparing for Leonard, who represents an inexperienced, mobile younger profile.
Comparison & Data
| Player | Age | Last NFL season | Notable recent note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philip Rivers | 44 | 2020 | 63,440 career passing yards; HOF semifinalist; high-school head coach |
| Riley Leonard | Rookie | Active (2024) | Completed 18/29 for 145 yards in second pro game; knee strain week-to-week |
| Brett Rypien | Career backup | Appeared in 2023 | Four career starts; last regular-season pass thrown in 2023 |
The table underscores the gap in recent game reps between Rivers and the Colts’ younger options. Rivers’ long-term production is substantial, but his absence from live NFL competition since 2020 is the core unknown.
Reactions & Quotes
Team and league officials framed the move as an insurance evaluation rather than an immediate roster change.
“Riley Leonard will start, but Rivers may be an option.”
Ian Rapoport, NFL Network (social report)
The Colts’ coach described Leonard’s condition and the team’s approach to the week.
“He came in with the knee this morning, so we’re working through that right now…. Hopefully, that’s the hope. So we’ll see how it goes.”
Shane Steichen, Colts head coach (postgame comments)
“Leonard has a strained knee ligament and is being treated as week-to-week,”
Adam Schefter, ESPN (report)
Unconfirmed
- Whether Rivers will pass physicals and paperwork in time to be active on Sunday is not confirmed and depends on Tuesday’s tryout and subsequent administrative steps.
- The exact scope of Riley Leonard’s knee damage beyond ESPN’s report of a strained ligament is pending further medical updates and imaging results.
- The Colts’ list of other potential veteran quarterback targets remains undisclosed; reports indicated other options could be explored but did not name players.
Bottom Line
The Colts face a fast-moving quarterback crisis that could reshape their short-term playoff prospects. Inviting Philip Rivers — a veteran with historical ties to the coaching staff and an extensive career résumé — is a pragmatic, low-risk evaluation aimed at providing immediate stability if the younger options are unavailable.
For Seahawks fans and planners, the opponent could change significantly depending on Indianapolis’ final roster moves; preparation must account for both a rookie starter and a polished veteran game manager. The decisive developments will arrive midweek: the Colts’ medical updates on Riley Leonard and the results of Rivers’ tryout will determine whether the league sees a comeback story or a continued emphasis on youth.
Sources
- The Seattle Times — Local news report on Colts/Seahawks matchup and Rivers tryout (regional journalism)
- NFL Network — League-focused media coverage and reporting on tryout (sports media)
- ESPN / Adam Schefter — Reporting on Riley Leonard’s knee status and Colts quarterback options (sports media)
- Indianapolis Colts — Official team site for roster and injury statuses (official team)