Leonard will make his first NFL start in Week 18. The rookie sixth-round pick 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 talented, completing 62.1 percent of his passes for 145 yards and an interception after Jacksonville but left the game with a sprained knee, leaving him a possibility in Week 15.
With the Colts’ playoff hopes on the line, Indy called a Hail Mary and wrote Rivers off instead of letting Leonard take over. 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 aging signal-caller hasn’t been able to beat the Colts, who have lost to top NFC targets the Seahawks and 49ers by a combined 66-43 in his two starts.
With Leonard waiting in the wings, Rivers’ NFL career is expected to end (again) with Sunday’s showdown with Jacksonville.