#indianapolis-colts

#indianapolis-colts

The Indianapolis Colts are expected to start rookie quarterback Riley Leonard on Sunday against the Houston Texans, sources told Stephen Holder and Jeremy Fowler on Tuesday. Philip Rivers, who came out of retirement after Daniel Jones' season-ending Achillies injury, came out of retirement and started the past three games. Rivers performed well but the Colts lost all three games and were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 17.

"It's almost like a slap in my face, bro," "I ain't gonna lie." "Did Philip Rivers send any type of sign that he was available?" "Why you asking me to do something that everybody else didn't do? I ain't no sucker. I ain't no lab rat. Come on, bro."

Indianapolis Colts coach Shane Steichen was still processing the devastating loss of starting quarterback Daniel Jones when he was blindsided by another QB injury. Monday morning -- in the aftermath of a consequential loss at the Jacksonville Jaguars in which Jones sustained a torn right Achilles tendon -- backup signal-caller Riley Leonard reported to work with a sore right knee from the previous day's game. Now, Leonard's status was in question.

"Overall, for him, coming back, not having played in a few weeks, he did a really nice job," Ryans said. "If this is where he started, it's only up for him. So, I'm excited to see how he continues to progress."

They have had the NFL's top-producing offense for weeks. They'd also enjoyed the largest point differential in the league, having been on the right side of several blowouts. But on Sunday in Pittsburgh, the Colts left Acrisure Stadium trying to explain a six-turnover performance in their ugliest game of the season. The lessons from this 27-20 loss to the Steelers will be harder to swallow. But they can also be useful if put to use in the right way.

It has become a strangely familiar sight: A player streaking toward the end zone, well beyond the reach of defenders, a touchdown looking like a certainty. And then ... Just before crossing the goal line, the ball carrier suffers a massive lapse in judgment and drops the ball, then sometimes tries to recover it as it bounces out of the back of the end zone. After a review, the apparent touchdown is overturned and changed to a touchback, giving the opposing team possession.