Colts turn to rookie QB Riley Leonard ahead of Texans game

There's a new QB in the saddle for the Houston Texans' Week 18 battle against the Indianapolis Colts.

According to ESPN's Stephen Holder, the Colts are turning to rookie Riley Leonard as their starting quarterback for Sunday's season finale at NRG Stadium. Over the past three week, Philip Rivers has started, but went 0-3 while trying to salvage a lost season.

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Rivers rejoined the team earlier this month after recently rising starter Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending injury against the Jacksonville Jaguars. With 2023 first-round pick Anthony Richardson Sr. on injured reserve from a previous injury, Indianapolis turned to Rivers and coaxed him out of retirement following a four-and-a-half year hiatus.

Rivers gave some bit of life to the offense despite going winless in three starts, completing 63% of his pass attempts (58-of-92) for 544 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions. Now out of the playoff conversation, the Colts turn back to Leonard to see what the slight future looks like under his watch entering a crucial offseason for the organization.

Leonard, a sixth-round pick from Notre Dame fresh off the injury report, will make his first career start against the Texans' No. 1 total defense. With a win, the Texans would finish with 12 victories, this securing their best season since 2012 under Gary Kubiak.

A victory would also keep them alive in the hunt for the AFC South division title, though that's easier said than done since the verdict will come down to the winner of the Jacksonville-Tennessee game. Should the Titans win, Houston would clinch the division. Should the Jaguars win, Houston would end up traveling on the road to take the winner of the AFC North in the wild-card round.

This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Colts turn to rookie QB Riley Leonard ahead of Texans game