Leonard completed 21 of 34 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns with one interception in Sunday's 38-30 loss to the Texans. He added 21 rushing yards and a TD on three carries but lost two fumbles.

EDGE Analysis

Despite the turnovers, it was a surprisingly productive performance from the sixth-round rookie in his first career NFL start against an elite Houston defense that still had something to play for when the game began. Both of Leonard's passing TDs went to Alec Pierce, and the QB's one-yard rushing score in the third quarter briefly gave Indy a 24-23 lead. The Colts' quarterback situation heading into 2026 remains murky with Daniel Jones (Achilles) a free agent and Anthony Richardson (eye) barely playing this season and getting little chance to further his development, but Leonard is unlikely to find himself at the top of the depth chart in Week 1.

Coach Shane Steichen confirmed Wednesday that Leonard will start Sunday's season finale against the Texans, JJ Stankevitz of the Colts' official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Additionally, Steichen noted that the Colts won't activate Anthony Richardson (orbital) from injured reserve this week. Veteran signal-caller Philip Rivers' three-week stint as the team's starter thus concludes, with practice squad member Seth Henigan a candidate to be elevated ahead of Week 18 action in order to back Leonard up. Leonard represents a fantasy lineup option for those scrambling for QB help this weekend, given that teams such as the Chargers (who plan to rest Justin Herbert) may elect to keep a number of starters out of harm's way.

The Colts plan to have Leonard start at quarterback in Sunday's season finale at Houston, Stephen Holder and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com report.

EDGE Analysis

With the Colts getting eliminated from playoff contention over the past weekend, 44-year-old Philip Rivers will head to the bench following a three-game run as starter as head coach Shane Steichen turns the offense over to Leonard. A rookie sixth-round pick out of Notre Dame, Leonard has seen spot playing time in three of his four appearances this season, with his lone extended action coming in Week 14 at Jacksonville after Daniel Jones exited early with a season-ending Achilles injury. Altogether, Leonard has completed 18 of 33 pass attempts for 145 yards, zero touchdowns and two interceptions while adding six yards and a score on three carries. Though Leonard likely isn't seen as the Colts' long-term answer at quarterback, a strong showing in Week 18 could strengthen his case for sticking around as a backup option heading into 2026.

Leonard could be an option to start the Colts' regular-season finale next Sunday against the Texans, JJ Stankevitz of the Colts' official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Coach Shane Steichen said he'll make a decision on the Week 18 starter Tuesday. Indianapolis was officially eliminated from playoff contention Saturday when the Texans defeated the Chargers, but after Philip Rivers went through practice all week as the starter, the 44-year-old veteran got the nod for Sunday's 23-17 loss to the Jaguars. With Indy having blown a 7-1 start to the season and now sitting at home for the postseason, the team may use Week 18 to get a look at Leonard, a sixth-round rookie who has completed 18 of 33 pass attempts for 145 yards and a pair of interceptions so far in the NFL, including one INT on a Hail Mary at the end of Week 17's loss to the Jaguars. He's added six yards and one touchdown on three carries, but he showed more mobility in college, running for an impressive 906 yards and 17 TDs as a senior with the Fighting Irish. As it stands, Leonard should probably be viewed as the favorite to start against Houston next Sunday.

Colts head coach Shane Steichen said that Leonard will remain in a backup role Sunday against the Jaguars while Philip Rivers makes a third straight start at quarterback, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Colts will be eliminated from playoff contention if the Texans beat the Chargers on Saturday, but Steichen confirmed that Rivers will continue to direct the offense regardless of the outcome of that contest. More specifically, Steichen said that it wouldn't be "fair" to ask rookie Leonard to start on 24 hours' notice if Rivers takes first-team reps throughout the week, which he has been doing since signing with the Colts in Week 15. Though the Colts have suffered losses to the playoff-bound squads in the Seahawks and 49ers in Rivers' two starts, the 44-year-old has given Indianapolis some stability under center following Daniel Jones' season-ending Achilles surgery. Rivers won't be part of the Colts' long-term plans, however, so if the team does get eliminated in Week 17, Steichen could entertain the idea of starting Leonard or third-year quarterback Anthony Richardson (orbital) -- if available -- in the regular-season finale against the Texans.

Leonard is expected to operate as the Colts' backup quarterback behind Philip Rivers against the Seahawks on Sunday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

Leonard appeared poised to take on starting duties for the rest of the season after Daniel Jones tore his Achilles during the Colts' Week 14 loss to the Jaguars. However, Indianapolis opted to sign Rivers to the practice squad Wednesday, and after he and Leonard split first-team reps during Week 15 prep, the Colts have opted to go with the 44-year-old quarterback, who hasn't seen action since the 2020 season. How Rivers plays Sunday will likely determine who remains at the helm for the Colts for the rest of the 2025 campaign.

Leonard (knee) doesn't carry an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Seahawks after practicing fully this week.

EDGE Analysis

While Leonard is healthy enough to be available this weekend, the Colts have yet to reveal their Week 15 starting QB plans, with veteran newcomer Philip Rivers also a candidate to get the nod, per JJ Stankevitz of the team's official site. On that subject, coach Shane Steichen noted Friday afternoon, "We're going to work through that right now. We literally just got off the practice field, but (Rivers) had a good week of work, and we'll have those discussions here in the next couple hours." In any case, in order for Rivers to be in uniform Sunday, the Colts will either need to elevate him to their active roster from the practice squad, or sign him to the 53-man roster by Saturday afternoon's transaction deadline.

Leonard (knee) was listed as a full practice participant Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Per JJ Stankevitz of the Colts' official site, Leonard, who subbed in for an injured Daniel Jones (Achilles) on Sunday against the Jaguars, emerged from Week 14 action with a knee injury. However, the QB's full participant in Wednesday's practice session puts him in a position to be available Sunday against the Seahawks. With Jones out for the rest of the season and Anthony Richardson (orbital) still on IR, Brett Rypien was signed to the team's active roster and 44-year-old Philip Rivers officially joined Indianapolis' practice squad Wednesday. At this stage, coach Shane Steichen acknowledged that the Colts' Week 15 signal-caller plans have yet to be determined and it's possible that Rivers could get the nod (rather than Leonard) versus Seattle, depending on how he fares at practice this week. With that in mind Steichen noted, "we'll see how the week goes...We'll get to the end of the week and make that decision."

Leonard (knee) will practice Wednesday, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

With Daniel Jones out for the season due to an Achilles' injury and Anthony Richardson (orbital) still on IR, Leonard is candidate to start Sunday's game against the Seahawks. However, now that he's dealing with a knee injury the QB's status will need to be monitored closely. Leonard's looming practice participation is a positive sign, but at this stage coach Shane Steichen has yet to reveal the Colts' Week 15 QB plans. Also in the mix on that front are Brett Rypien, who was signed to the team's active roster Wednesday, as well as 44-year-old Philip Rivers, who has officially joined Indianapolis' practice squad. Per Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan Indianapolis, when asked if Leonard would start this weekend if healthy, Steichen said "we will see" while noting that Rivers will be evaluated in practice this week.

Leonard was diagnosed with a Grade 1 PCL sprain of his right knee following Sunday's 36-19 loss to the Jaguars, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

After Daniel Jones sustained a season-ending torn right Achilles tendon late in the first quarter of Sunday's contest, Leonard stepped in for the remainder of the game. Though the rookie didn't miss a snap after taking over the offense, he emerged from the game with a knee issue that threatens his availability for a Week 15 game in Seattle. The Colts plan to have Leonard make his first NFL start this weekend if he's healthy enough to do so, as Anthony Richardson (orbital) has yet to resume practicing and will remain on injured reserve for at least one more week. Practice squad member Brett Rypien is the lone healthy quarterback in the Colts organization at the moment however, and would get the nod in Leonard can't play. Regardless of Leonard's status for Sunday, Indianapolis is expected to add depth to its quarterback room, and 44-year-old Philip Rivers worked out for the team Monday night. Because Rivers hasn't played professionally since 2020, the Colts would have him start out on the practice squad if he gets signed rather than having him immediately challenge Leonard or Rypien for a spot on the depth chart.