Leonard will be getting his first NFL start in Week 18. The sixth-round rookie saw his first extended action in the Colts’ Week 14 loss to the Jags, when Leonard replaced Daniel Jones, who suffered a season-ending torn Achilles. The Duke and Notre Dame product was competent, completing 62.1 percent of his passes for 145 yards and an interception after Jacksonville but left the game with a knee sprain, leaving his Week 15 availability in doubt.
With the Colts’ playoff hopes on the line, Indy called a Hail Mary and signed Rivers out of retirement instead of handing the reins to Leonard. Entering Sunday’s Week 17 game, Rivers has been stellar, completing 66.1 percent of his passes for 397 yards, three touchdowns and two picks. But the aged signal-caller has been unable to muster wins for the Colts, who have lost to the Seahawks and 49ers, the NFC’s cream of the crop, by a combined score of 66-43 in his two starts.
With Leonard waiting in the wings, Rivers’ NFL career is expected to come to a close (again) with Sunday’s showdown with Jacksonville.