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[Indianapolis Colts]

The Colts’ remaining schedule is a gauntlet

Indianapolis, IN — The Indianapolis Colts are fresh off consecutive losses for the first time this season, and have lost three of their last four games. This stretch includes a bye week that is often regarded as a much-needed break, yet the Colts have only provided questions than answers since.

The Colts famously began the 2025-26 season firing on all cylinders, climbing out to the AFC’s best 7-1 record through eight weeks. After they’d lose to the middling Pittsburgh Steelers in the week following, however, is when nonbelievers began to expose themselves. There were some in the weeks leading up to said loss, but the confidence in their claims grew louder after Pittsburgh.

Sitting with an 8-4 record and lots of rediscovered baggage at the end of Week 13, those previous allegations don’t seem so outlandish now. Here’s the comparison of Indy’s strength of schedule pre-bye week to that of its gauntlet post-Week 13, which is the NFL’s toughest remaining schedule according to Tankathon:

Pre-Bye Week opponents’ collective win percentage: .400

Post-Week 13 opponents’ collective win percentage: .672

The decision to cut the season in half for this exercise was to showcase how the previous ‘byproduct of an easier schedule’ allegations have some weight to them. Including both the Colts’ losses to Kansas City and Houston in Weeks 11-12 would’ve bolstered that win percentage, which seems a bit counterproductive given the Colts had no signs of slowing down post-Berlin win. For what it’s worth, even before the Chiefs and Texans bested the Colts, Indy’s post-bye week strength of schedule was good for the 4th-toughest (.589) leaguewide.

The Colts’ remaining schedule is arguably the definition of a gauntlet by NFL standards, with each of their five remaining contests featuring teams vying for the division lead. Not only is each team poised to win its division, but there’s a reality where every one of Indy’s remaining opponents could make the playoffs.

Week 14: @ Jacksonville (8-4)

Week 15: @ Seattle (9-3)

Week 16: 49ers (9-4)

Week 17: Jaguars (8-4)

Week 18: Texans (7-5)

The good news for Indianapolis is that everything remains in front of them. So long as they win out, they hold the record breaker over Houston and punch their ticket into the playoffs. The bad news, however, is that Jacksonville holds the tiebreaker over Indy going into Week 14. Even though the Colts and Jaguars have both of their divisional matchups left on the schedule, splitting the season series with both teams winning out would favor Jacksonville and ultimately name them the AFC South champions.

Indianapolis Colts fans, analysts, reporters, and even haters alike understand what’s at stake this coming weekend. They already bested one curse, the season-opener curse, but the biggest one looms largest: playing in Jacksonville, Florida. From Duval chants to clown masks, the Colts have their hands full as they look to not only get back on track as far as this season and regime go, but also defeat a curse that otherwise seems like an inevitable loss.

The losing streak in Jacksonville predates Chris Ballard and Co. — last win came in the 2014-15 season — but even the present members of this organization feel the pressure from the ghosts of the Colts’ past to get the job done. No exaggeration, if the Colts win this weekend, a majority of the recently surfaced doom and gloom outlook gets flushed down the toilet. This curse has turned into that much of a foregone conclusion.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...03/the-colts-remaining-schedule-is-a-gauntlet

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Five seconds changed the entire season for the Colts

Football is a game of inches. It is also a game of seconds. It doesn’t take long for a moment to completely alter a play, a game, or a season. Three moments across five or so seconds dictated the outcome of the game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Houston Texans. Naturally, there were 3,595 other seconds of game play that had a say in this one, so while not everything can be blamed on those five fateful seconds, a lot can be chalked up to it.

Seconds 1-3​

Down 0-3 and struggling to move the ball, the Colts finally struck on a three play touchdown drive with a beautiful catch by Alec Pierce in the back of the endzone. It seemed like the Colts had finally figured out the rubix’s cube that is the Texan’s defense. Michael Badgley stepped in to put the Colts up four and just like the first touchdown against the Falcons, he missed the kick. Extra points are crucial, and while they can be missed once in a great while, Badgley is making too much of a habit out of it. The three seconds it took from the leg sweep to the clear miss put the Colts behind the eight ball the rest of the game. Instead of kicking a game tying field goal late, they had to go for it on fourth and long, and you know the outcome there.

Second 4​

Every snap has a play clock. After each play it resets to 40 seconds and once the ball is “in play” it can be pushed to 25 if needed. Once time expires, if it hasn’t been snapped, it is a five-yard penalty and replay of the previous down. Explaining that may appear to be unnecessary but don’t tell that to the officials on Sunday. At the start of the fourth quarter, the Texans faced a crucial third and fifteen from the Colts’ 25-yard line. Get off the field and force a field goal. What was third and fifteen should have moved to third and twenty because the Texans never got the ball off in time. That one second delay should have resulted in a five yard penalty and no play. It was never called and cost the Colts dearly.

Second 5​

How long does it take to throw a flag? If a little more than a second, pull half a second from the above and let’s proceed. The aforementioned missed delay of game penalty cost the Colts four points because after the missed call, the refs doubled down and called an egregious pass interference on Kenny Moore. That no contact call bailed the Texans out and allowed them to punch it in for seven. Take four points off the board and the Colts have the ball late in the fourth with the chance to take the lead on a field goal. Throw in the missed extra point and it would have required the Texans score a touchdown to win. That pass interference call changed the entire game and ultimately sunk the Colts.

A promising season is now on the brink because of a few ticks of the clock. Yes, there were other moments; other seconds that could have swung the game the other way. It is impossible to ignore that if those five seconds were reversed, or even called correctly, things would be different for the Colts. They would still be the AFC South leaders and have a really strong shot at the playoffs. Shoulda, coulda, woulda. That isn’t the case. Those five seconds are now part of history. The Colts are just hoping this season isn’t history as well.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...conds-changed-the-entire-season-for-the-colts

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Colts sign Kicker Blake Grupe to Practice Squad

The 3rd search for a Colts Kicker in 2025 is over, and a new leg is in town.

Grupe went full send

CBS pic.twitter.com/q67bYJF3AF

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) October 5, 2025

Blake Grupe is a 3rd year Kicker who spent 2023-2025 with the Saints. He went 75/94 in his time in New Orleans with the following distance splits.

• 21/23 on 20-29 yard kicks
• 22/25 on 30-39 yard kicks
• 17/23 on 40-49 yard kicks
• 15/23 on 50+ yard kicks
• 86/88 on Extra Points

Don’t mistake the 5’7 156 lb kicker for lacking power, with his career long being 57 yards and hitting a 54+ yarder every year of his career.

The #Colts are signing former #Saints K Blake Grupe to the practice squad, source says. Grupe finds work quickly after impressing in a workout today, shortly before Indy cut K Michael Badgley. pic.twitter.com/3JQmH64e1M

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) December 2, 2025

Grupe was released by the Saints last week following a 1/3 Kicking performance against the Falcons where he missed kicks in the 30s and 40s distance ranges. The former Notre Dame Fighting Irishman has had a rough 2025 season with a career low 69.2% Field Goal % after going 81.1% in 2023 and 87.1% in 2024. He reunites with his former coach Brian Mason, who is the Colts special teams coordinator.

Blake Grupe has a history with #Colts special teams coordinator Brian Mason, who coached him at Notre Dame in 2022. Grupe is in line to kick for Indy this week. https://t.co/KkjLitbEYf

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) December 2, 2025

Grupe potentially will be elevated a few times off of the practice squad before the Colts decide whether to sign him to the active roster full time. A player can be activated off of Practice squad 3 times before requiring to be signed to the active roster. Time will tell if he takes advantage of this opportunity and earns a full time job with the Colts for the remainder of the season.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...lts-sign-kicker-blake-grupe-to-practice-squad

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Give me your two best immediate fixes, to turn the Colts season around.

I am not going to lie, the Texans game hurt me. I think I am about as glass half full as they get, but when the game was over, I had had a hard time processing what had went wrong. There were so many fingers to point, but nothing would change the result. Two straight games of playing teams that were basically in win or go home mode, showed what we would see in the playoffs and we would have been sent home each time. I say this reluctantly, as I know my man card is on the line, but after the game, I handed the remote to my wife and watched a Hallmark movie from start to finish… I know!

Sometimes there are changes that appear clear to us fans, but they are usually roster related. Get so and so off the field! We can’t with with this guy playing this position. Sometimes we want the coach to change an approach. More runs, more passes, more shots down the field. Sometimes we want more effort or urgency. We are generally pretty sure we could win, if the coaches would just listen to us.

So what I’d like to ask of you today, is how would you fix the Colts to the point that they win the division? They have their destiny in their own hands, so what needs to be done to ensure that they get their hat in the ring with a home playoff game? I’d think that Steichen has to be aware that not making the playoffs, would likely see him being considered as a OC for a team who’s HC calls the plays, or maybe as a HC at the college level, so he should be highly motivated.

I honestly do not know of any starters on offense or defense, that I feel are costing the Colts games. That doesn’t mean that there is not a player that needs to be replaced. We replaced our ineffective kicker (not quite the same ring as our liquored up kicker), in a move that might have been made in the middle of the game if they allowed it. For you other old timers, where is Charlie Finley when you need him? We have no clue if Grupe has time to gain enough confidence from Steichen, to alter our approach to when to take points.

As for changes on offense, I’d have my first series “No Huddle”. Changing personnel seems unnecessary, considering our weapons. Warren is a dual threat and so are Pitt and AP. Taylor can run, pass block and should be given some routes from somewhere besides the backfield (See note*). If you want to keep the threat of a run, just put Warren back there, where he would also make a good last line of defense against the rush. If you had to be in a short yardage situation, our WR will be bigger than their DBs and it may work better than bringing in TEs, who might not be bigger than the LBs who come as counter measures. Get their D in a personnel package that you can exploit and keep them on the field.

(*While I am thinking about it. We often see JT motion wide, only to return. I understand that we are try to gain some knowledge, but does that mean that we get the same information every time? I never see them run the play while he is out there, so has the D shown something each and every time, which tells the offense he should return to the backfield? Would it hurt to get it to him while he was wide, or let him run a route from there? Rant over.*)

After a game like we just witnessed, there have to be a lot of opinions on what the weakest link is. I’d like for you to think of those moves as being in the best interest for this year, rather than just saying “Fire Everyone” and see who wants to play next year. The Colts currently hold a spot in the playoffs and control their own fate, so now is not a time to abandon ship.

So, you get 10 minutes with Shane, CB, or even Carlie. What two moves are you going to suggest to get the team a home playoff game and a chance at more? Mine would be the No Huddle and the kicker, so I can check one box.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...mediate-fixes-to-turn-the-colts-season-around

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Colts with several top vote-getters after first wave of Pro Bowl voting

The Indianapolis Colts may currently be amidst a fast track to implosion, but they’ve maintained enough individual success throughout the regular season that NFL fans far and wide are noticing.

The NFL held its first round of fan voting for the 2025 Pro Bowl Games this past week, with several Colts players emerging as top vote-getters in their respective position groups. We’ll see if this recognition continues after the next round of voting, as Indianapolis just dropped its third game in four tries. Even though these are inherently individual nods, team success is often a factor in voters’ analysis.

With that being said, below are the Colts players who have received top 10 votes for their position group:

Offense

Quarterback Daniel Jones (6th)

Running back Jonathan Taylor (1st)

Tight end Tyler Warren (2nd)

Guard Quenton Nelson (2nd)

Defense

Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (9th)

Free safety Camryn Bynum (7th)

Strong safety Nick Cross (8th)

Running back Jonathan Taylor has remained a strong candidate for this year’s AP Offensive Player of the Year Award. His production has fallen in recent weeks, yet he’s still the leader in the clubhouse among major statistics for his position. Taylor’s 1,282 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns lead all rushers, and were good enough to earn the 4th-most total votes (25,134) from the early voting window.

The Colts had only three representatives at the 2024 Pro Bowl Games — linebacker Zaire Franklin, guard Quenton Nelson, and running back Jonathan Taylor — and even those three nods were a bit shocking due to the communal disappointment that was this past season.

Given the aforementioned sinking ship that the Colts appear to be on, bringing a light to individual efforts in a stretch that’s brought collective failure may be counterproductive. However, this roster is comprised of talented football players who have balled out; therefore, recognition is in order. So long as they get back on track, praising those who deserve it won’t be a problem moving forward.

To Indianapolis Colts and NFL fans alike: Go to Probowl.com/vote to cast your vote for the best NFL playmakers this season. There is no limit to how many times fans can vote daily.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...e-getters-after-first-wave-of-pro-bowl-voting

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Week 14 Poll: Will the Colts bounce back this week?

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Colts fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Heading into Week 14, we want to know how you’re feeling after watching the team so far this year. Every week of the season we will ask fans if they are confident the team is headed in the right direction and more of the most pressing questions facing the coming game. Let us know what you think!

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/general/118637/week-14-poll-will-the-colts-bounce-back-this-week

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Indianapolis Colts Injury Report: WR Downs and CB Moore II Return To Practice

The Indianapolis Colts today released their Thursday injury report for Week 14 of the NFL season against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

thursday's practice report for #INDvsJAX. pic.twitter.com/fJd8y7AzBi

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) December 4, 2025

Wide receiver Josh Downs was a full participant at practice today. Downs missed practice yesterday with hip and knee, but him managing a full practice today, boosts his chances of playing Sunday. If Downs can play, it would be a big plus for a struggling offense.

Cornerback Kenny Moore II (illness/ankle) was a full participant at practice today. Moore II missed practice yesterday due to an illness and an ankle injury. Moore had been rehabbing an Achilles injury for most of the year, but it appears the illness at least he has started to recover from.

Defensive end Tyquan Lewis was limited at practice today with a groin injury. Lewis missed practice yesterday so a limited practice participant today is a positive step for his availability on Sunday. Lewis has been managing a groin injury for a big part of the season now, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him miss Sunday’s game.

Linebacker Jaylon Carlies (ankle) was a full participant at practice against today. Carlies will either be activated from injured reserve this week or spend the rest of the season on on there. He has been practicing full for over two weeks now, so hopefully his return is imminent.

Quarterback Daniel Jones was a full participant at practice today. Jones is dealing with a fractured fibula that’s been playing through, and has so far, limited some of his mobility and pocket escapability.

Colts starting cornerback Sauce Gardner, recovering from a calf strain, has not practiced all week, and it’s looking increasingly likely that he’ll be out this week, and likely a few more weeks.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...port-wr-downs-and-cb-moore-return-to-practice

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Colts Injury Report: LB Carlies And DE Lewis Both QUESTIONABLE; Gardner Out

The Indianapolis Colts today released their Friday injury report for Week 14 of the NFL season against the Jacksonville Jaguars on the road for Sunday.

friday’s practice report for #INDvsJAX. pic.twitter.com/KXgOQsmULJ

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) December 5, 2025

Cornerback Sauce Gardner has been ruled OUT of Sunday’s game against the Jaguars with a calf injury. Gardner injured his calf early in the Texans game last week and is expected to miss multiple weeks because of it. Expect to see fellow cornerbacks Mekhi Blackmon or Jaylon Jones line up at outside corner in his place.

Defensive end Tyquan Lewis been designated as QUESTIONABLE for this Sunday’s game against the Jaguars due to a groin injury. Lewis has been dealing with a groin injury for multiple weeks now and it still appears to be affecting him. He only managed to participate in one practice this week, and even then he was limited. If Lewis is unable to play, expect to see a bigger role for rookie 2nd round pick JT Tuimoloau.

Linebacker Jaylon Carlies been designated as QUESTIONABLE for this Sunday’s game against the Jaguars due to an ankle injury. Carlies is trying to work his way off injured reserve, and the team opened his 21 day window three weeks ago. The team now has to make the final decision to either activated him and if not, he will have to stay on injured reserve for the entire rest of the season. Carlies has managed three straight weeks of full practices, which is promising but it still remains to be seen if he will be activated or he’ll miss the entire 2025 season.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...es-and-de-lewis-both-questionable-gardner-out

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Colts’ Players to Watch: Week 14 @Jaguars

Kwity Paye​

It is just so hard to judge Kwity Paye, because he is not bad by any means, but his impact as a pass-rusher is almost non-existent, save for perhaps one or two plays a game where he manages to get home, and it’s not like he is a wrecking force against the run either. I honestly do not understand how he keeps getting such a dominant amount of snaps, and I have no clue whether the Colts are going to attempt to re-sign him in the offseason or not, but his future financial health, and the Colts’ playoff chances, are in need of a late-season emergence.

Tanor Bortolini​

Bortolini had two missed snaps last week against the Texans, was suspect in pass-protection, and has not been getting to the second level as well as he was in recent games. It also does not help that he is facing exotic blitz packages every other snap, which probably takes a ton of mental effort to try and diagnose and beat. My belief is that Bortolini should be fine and is experiencing the pains of development, but if the Colts’ pass-protection is to improve, he will need to start showing some of those improvements as soon as possible.

Josh Downs​

After a blistering start, the Colts’ offense has really struggled in two areas where Downs used to be effective. Moving the chains, and getting quick separation. As a result of the struggles in both areas, opposing defenses are being able to blitz at an alarming rate without any repercusion because the offense just cannot get the quick outs. Downs needs to offer that security blanket to Jones once again, and the offense will start looking more like it did at the beginning of the year.

Blake Grupe​

Michael Badgley is no longer the Colts’ kicker after yet another missed extra point against the Texans last week, one that ended up being the difference between being forced to go for a touchdown or being able to kick a field goal to send the game to overtime late in the 4th. Newly signed Blake Grupe is 86-88 in XP in his career (15-15 this year), and average inside the 50-yard range. The Colts will probably still be aggressive on 4th down, so do not expect a ton of volume for Grupe, the team just needs him to get the extra points.

Joshua Hines-Allen (Jaguars)​

Hines-Allen always pops up against the Colts. It might be that he matches up really well against Braden Smith, or perhaps he just likes playing us, but he is consistently a game-wrecker. The Colts’ pass-protection has not been working well, and Jones’ production has been suffering as a result.

Andrew Wingard / Travon Walker (Jaguars)​

Keep an eye out for two injured Jaguars’ defensive players that have been making a big impact this season, and look more out than in on Sunday. Both Wingard and Walker have been really productive against the run, and after three consecutive games where the Colts’ passing game has sputtered Steichen could be forced to use a heavy dose of JT.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...118731/colts-players-to-watch-week-14-jaguars

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Colts’ Week 13 QB Analysis: I’m impressed

Thanks to the nflFastR project, Pro Football Focus and NFL NextGen Stats for the timely sources of data.

For those of you new to this, I will publish key QB stats each week judging how well the Colts’ QB performed. Yes, O-Line, receivers, and play-calling impact these numbers but they are primarily QB measures. I will probably modify the charts throughout the season. Commentary will be brief but feel free to let me know in the comments that stats aren’t everything. (click charts for larger view)

---

HOW WELL?​

This was a game where you can’t look at the scoreboard and determine how well Daniel Jones performed. Well, you should never do that — but many people try anyway… QB winzzz! The past few weeks, I haven’t felt great about how Jones was playing, but this game went a long way toward allaying those fears.

His 0.13 EPA per play isn’t a great number, but it isn’t bad — and he was facing the best passing defense in the league. Houston allows opposing QBs an average of -0.11 EPA per play. Read that again: that’s negative EPA per play. Jones was well, well above that baseline.

Now, his success rate is a different story — 40% is pretty poor — but even that is higher than what the Texans usually allow. And considering he was playing with a fractured fibula, he performed much better than I expected.

The first quarter was a slog, and he posted seven negative plays in a row. But the 2nd, 3rd, and the first part of the 4th quarter were simply brilliant — big positive plays, and only a handful of limited negative ones. Unfortunately, he ended with 3 incompletions and a turnover on downs.

His last few weeks have been shaky, but this was a clear bounce-back. His EPA was above average, his 1st-down conversion rate was right there as well, and his yardage efficiency was very good.

---

HOW FAR?​

As I mentioned earlier, he had a great partial game that was book-ended by a lot of incompletions. Extreme pressure and a few receiver drops certainly contributed to that. But he also hit much longer completions this week than he has in a while — 8.3 adjusted yards per attempt is ridiculously high for a 53.6% completion rate.

You can see in these next graphs how his passing depth returned to normal, and his completion depth is almost off the chart. In fact, it can’t go off the chart because the 100th percentile is the maximum — and Jones hit that.

I’ve said this many times, but Jones doesn’t rely on YAC for his efficiency — he relies on passing depth, which is the exact opposite of how he operated in New York.

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TO WHO?​

Pierce had a day and Warren had unusally low production.

Because of that, Warren has actually handed the season yardage crown to Pierce… for now.

I would’ve liked to see Pittman a lot higher in this chart, but the overall trendline for the receivers is normal — RBs with short, lower-value targets, then the TEs have deeper targets with more value, then the WRs.

This one still amazes me and makes me happy. Almost all of the receives are above the league average value line.

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HOW ACCURATE?​

His accuracy was the worst of the season, so that’s not good.

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HOW FAST?​

Just like against the Chiefs, pressure forced him to get the ball out earlier than he wanted. That was a key problem for him in New York. On the season, though, he’s gotten the ball out quickly relative to the depth of his throws — and that’s a really, really good sign.

---

TO WHERE?​

He distributed the ball across the field really well, but his longer passes were far more successful than his shorter ones. I see that as forced checkdowns rather than designed throws.

Very little red on the season chart. He doesn’t really favor one side of the field either.

---

DASHBOARD​

mouseover definitions: epa/d, median EPA gain in similar game situation (down, distance, etc.)”>arsr, 3 yards to gain in game-neutral situations”>edp, opd, pr%, tip, ttt, adot, ay/c, yac, yacoe, yd/c, ac%, cpoe, aypa, scr%, ta%, sck%, aa%, aay, ny/d, ny/p, 1st%, td%, to%, 0″>qbsr epa/p, adj/p

Here’s what happened in week 13:

• Even though JT had some nice carries, the run game struggled overall. Despite that, the Colts kept a balanced attack (29th ARSR, 17th EDP).
• Jones faced the most pressure of any QB in Week 13, and he countered it with quick throws (1st PR%, 28th TTT). Think about that — he got rid of the ball super quick, and he still faced the #1 pressure rate. Yikes.
• Despite the fast throws, he didn’t sacrifice depth — neither on his attempts nor on his completions (12th ADOT, 1st AY/C).
• With the longer throws came limited YAC, but he still produced the longest completions of the week (24th YAC, 1st YDS/C).
• One big negative is his low completion rate (30th AC%), which was partly due to the 2nd-highest team drop rate. Despite that, he still accumulated the 7th-best adjusted yards per attempt (before throwaways).
• Given the pressure he faced, it’s impressive that he didn’t abandon many passing attempts. He had no scrambles (injury?), a low throw-away rate, and only one sack (28th SCR%, 22nd TA%, 25th SCK%). That kept his abandon rate low, which helped keep his yardage efficiency high (30th AA%, 5th NY/D).
• Unfortunately, that great yardage didn’t translate into a lot of first downs, but he did throw a couple of TDs and no turnovers (18th 1st%, 6th TD%, 25th TO%).
• That all translates to a 16th-ranked EPA efficiency and a much lower 25th-ranked success rate, which tells the story of how big plays pulled the overall value up.

Considering he was playing hurt against the Houston defense, I call that game a win for Jones — even if it didn’t translate into a win for the Colts. As hard as that game was to watch, it actually made me feel much better about the rest of the season.

For the past few games, I saw the New York Giants version of Jones, who was folding under pressure. Not this game. He made good decisions, reacted quickly, and threw a lot of big passes. As odd as it sounds after a 16-point effort, I actually feel like he’s back on track… I just jinxed it, didn’t I?

mouseover definitions: ay<, dp%, ay/c, yac, yd/c, ac%, aypa, drp%, aypa, ta%, ypa, sck%, ny/a, scr%, ny/d, car%, ny/p, 1st%, any/p, td%, any/p, to%, any/p, epa/p, opd, adj/p

On the season, I have Jones ranked 6th in overall efficiency. However, he has faced the 4th-toughest slate of opposing pass defenses, so he gets bumped up to 3rd in adjusted overall efficiency. Amazing.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/nfl-an...118667/colts-week-13-qb-analysis-im-impressed

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Why the Weather in Jacksonville Should Change Everything for the Colts

Weather doesn’t usually dominate NFL conversations, but it absolutely should this week in Jacksonville. Forecasts are calling for persistent rain, cooler temperatures, and a damp field throughout the day. That combination matters a lot. When the surface is slick and the ball is wet, the game slows, margins tighten, and teams that insist on playing fast and loose through the air often pay for it.

Rain impacts far more than just deep passing. It affects footing at the line of scrimmage, timing at the top of routes, exchanges in shotgun, and ball security in traffic. Quarterbacks grip the ball differently. Receivers shorten and round routes. Defensive backs slip just as often as wideouts. The result is a messier, lower-efficiency version of football where every possession carries more weight. In those conditions, explosive plays become harder to execute and turnovers become far more likely.

That’s why game planning matters so much in weather like this, and why the Colts should lean into a more physical, controlled approach. Grinding the game down isn’t about being conservative — it’s about reducing variance. In rain, the risk-reward balance of throwing changes dramatically. A six-yard run isn’t glamorous, but it’s safe. It keeps the clock moving, flips field position slowly, and forces the opponent to earn everything the hard way. On the road, in bad weather, that’s often exactly how wins are manufactured.

For Indianapolis, the weather almost screams for a Jonathan Taylor-centric game plan. Taylor is a downhill runner who thrives on volume, patience, and defensive fatigue. I’ve written articles this season about him being the closer for the team. Sloppy footing actually works in his favor: one missed tackle, one defender slipping out of a gap, and a four-yard run becomes ten. Repeated carries also wear on a defense’s legs, which is especially important on a wet surface where recovery and lateral movement are compromised. Long, methodical drives don’t just protect the ball; they take oxygen out of the stadium.

The other side of the coin is what rain does to the passing game. Timing routes are harder to hit. Vertical shots turn into coin flips. Pressure gets home faster when linemen can’t anchor. Defenses don’t have to blanket receivers when conditions already limit precision. In that environment, dropping back repeatedly invites disaster: sacks, fumbles, tipped balls, or one mistake that tilts the game. Even quarterbacks playing “well” statistically can lose control of the game in a handful of bad snaps.

A wet-field game also places a premium on field position and clock control. Punting doesn’t hurt as much when drives are hard to sustain. Pinning an opponent deep becomes valuable when explosive offense is harder to sustain. Every three-and-out feels heavier because stringing together long drives is more taxing. That style of game rewards patience, discipline, and physical dominance — traits that don’t show up in highlight reels but decide ugly road games.

For Shane Steichen, this isn’t just a weather adjustment — it’s a coaching test. Weather removes excuses. There’s no space for overthinking, no room for pass-happy stubbornness, and no benefit to chasing pretty plays. The best game plans in bad weather are often the simplest: run the ball, protect possession, live to fight the next snap.

None of this guarantees a Colts win. Rain can be unpredictable, and weird things happen in weird conditions. But refusing to adapt almost guarantees trouble. In a division race, on the road, with postseason stakes attached, the Colts can’t afford to play a version of football the weather doesn’t allow. This has all the makings of a grind-it-out game — the kind decided by toughness, restraint, and who makes fewer mistakes.

When the margins shrink, decision-making expands in importance. Jacksonville’s weather won’t decide the game by itself. But how the Colts react to it just might.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/nfl-an...nville-should-change-everything-for-the-colts

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

AFC Playoff Picture: Indianapolis Colts drop in wild card race

With their loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Indianapolis Colts fell behind the Buffalo Bills in the AFC wild card race in addition to falling further behind the Jags in the AFC South. With a Houston Texans win on Sunday night, the Colts would fall out of playoff position entirely.

The Denver Broncos won on Sunday to move into first place while the New England Patriots were idle on a bye. The Pittsburgh Steelers control the AFC North right now after beating the Baltimore Ravens. Not a whole lot of meaning there in those division leaders anyway unless the Colts can go on a run.

The Los Angeles Chargers play on Monday night against the Eagles. A loss by them would drop them into a tie with Indy at 8-5.

The Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs play each other on Sunday night in a huge AFC playoff game.

AFC standings during Week 14​

1. Denver Broncos (11-2, 7-2 AFC)
2. New England Patriots (11-2, 6-2 AFC)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4)
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)
5. Buffalo Bills (9-4)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)
7. Indianapolis Colts (8-5)
8. Houston Texans (7-5)
9. Kansas City Chiefs (6-6, 3-4 AFC)
10. Baltimore Ravens (6-7, win over MIA)
11. Miami Dolphins (6-7, loss to BAL)
12. Cincinnati Bengals (4-9)
13. e-New York Jets (3-10)
14. e-Cleveland Browns (3-10)
15. e-Las Vegas Raiders (2-11)
16. e-Tennessee Titans (2-11)

The Tennessee Titans were eliminated from playoff contention as were the Las Vegas Raiders. The New York Jets and Cleveland Browns joined them in Week 14.

AFC South standings during Week 14​

The Jags won and Colts lost, obviously. The Texans play Sunday night. The Tennessee Titans won and fell from the top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft for now.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4)
2. Indianapolis Colts (8-5)
3. Houston Texans (7-5)
4. Tennessee Titans (2-11)

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...ure-indianapolis-colts-drop-in-wild-card-race

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Colts-Seahawks opening odds: Things have certainly changed

The Indianapolis Colts are headed to the west coast to take on the Seattle Seahawks in week fifteen. This is a game that some fans may have had circled on the calendar a month ago as a huge game and test for this team. It could have been an opportunity to test the validity and mettle of the 2025 Colts. Now, it is an “escape without being totally embarrassed” type of game. The season took a terrible turn on Sunday, and FanDuel Sportsbook has adjusted in kind. The Colts are 10.5-point underdogs in this one. Ouch.

The money line starts at +460 while the over/under is 43.5.

Just when you thought things couldn’t get much worse, the wheels completely fell off the Colts’ season yesterday. On the first throw of the first possession, Daniel Jones threw it straight to the defender and was intercepted. That resulted in a quick Jaguar’s score. Fortunately, the Colts were able to rebound and punch it in on a Jonathan Taylor touchdown. None of that matters now as Jones tore his Achilles and is out for the season. Riley Leonard took over, but it was simply too much. The Jaguars offense couldn’t be stopped, and the Colts couldn’t muster any threat on their end.

The Seahawks are not to be messed with this year. At 10-3, Sam Darnold is showing that Minnesota wasn’t a fluke. Things started off slowly, but then the stars came out for Seattle. In the second half, Jaxon Smith-Nigba caught two touchdowns from Darnold and Cooper Kupp tacked one on as well. A 6-6 game at the half turned into a total romp with a final score of 37-9. Returning home to face a Colts backup quarterback should have the Seahawks licking their chops. They have work to do to overtake the Rams, but they will fully welcome the Colts in for a visit next week.

The Colts have been favorites for much of the year. They have been road dogs as well but nothing like this. Obviously, when the quarterback goes down with a season ending injury, the odds will change. The Colts probably would have been underdogs regardless. Now, with the odds plummeting and Daniel Jones lost for the season, the Colts will do what they can to make sure the season isn’t lost as well.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...ks-opening-odds-things-have-certainly-changed

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Colts to host Philip Rivers, 44, for workout ahead of final month

The Indianapolis Colts reached out to a retired signal caller in hopes of finding a solution to the active quarterback conundrum and will fly in 44-year-old retired quarterback Philip Rivers for a workout at the team facility on Tuesday.

Rivers was celebrating his 44th birthday when he received the offer to fly into Indianapolis. The eight-time Pro Bowl quarterback has not played in the NFL since the 2020 season, when he finished his career fueling one last playoff run with the Colts. Indianapolis has not reached the playoffs since Rivers’ last NFL game.

.@AdamSchefter reports on the Colts planning to work out 44-year-old QB Philip Rivers on Tuesday.

He last played in the NFL in 2020. pic.twitter.com/YVm9lI66i2

— ESPN (@espn) December 9, 2025

Rivers has strong ties to Colts head coach Shane Steichen, who moved up the ranks in the Los Angeles Chargers organization across two stints in nine seasons from defensive assistant, to quality control coach, to quarterbacks coach, to offensive coordinator. During the four seasons Steichen was the quarterbacks coach, Rivers ranked second in the league in passing yards and fourth in touchdown passes. Steichen took over play-calling duties as interim offensive coordinator for the Chargers in the final seven games of the 2019 season and was promoted to full-time offensive coordinator in 2020.

It’s absolutely bonkers to think how just one month ago, the Colts left Berlin with the best record in the NFL at 8-2, following a massive overtime win against the Atlanta Falcons. Fast forward to this past weekend, when the Houston Texans beat the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football to momentarily seize the final wild card spot over Indianapolis after Week 14. After three straight losses, the Colts sit at 8-5 with just four games left to reinsert themselves back into the playoff picture and must do so without their starting quarterback.

Colts QB Daniel Jones will miss the rest of the season after he suffered a ruptured Achilles against the Jaguars, Head Coach Shane Steichen confirmed in an announcement on Monday. Jones was in the midst of a dream resurgence in his newly found home, but collapsed to the grass with a season-ending, non-contact injury at the end of the first quarter in Jacksonville. The 28-year-old signed a one-year, $14 million deal with intentions to take the reins in Indianapolis, but a nine month absence could and probably will derail those long-term plans that were seemingly resurrected after a sensational 7-1 start with the Colts in 2025.

Rookie QB Riley Leonard took over after Jones exited the game and finished 18-of-29 passing for 145 passing yards with one rushing touchdown and one interception in Sunday’s 36-19 loss to the Jaguars. To make matters worse, Leonard walked into Monday’s practice dealing with soreness in his right knee. The Colts cannot plan to start a rookie, who had no experience with the starting unit before this past Sunday and will also miss practice this week while recovering from his knee injury.

Third-year quarterback Anthony Richardson is still on injured reserve, while recovering from a broken orbital bone he suffered during a bizarre pre-game incident in Week 6. Richardson will not be activated for Week 15 and it would be a Christmas miracle if he could return for the final three games. The next possible return for Richardson would be two weeks away in a Monday Night Football showdown against the San Francisco 49ers inside Lucas Oil Stadium. Richardson has played just 14 snaps this season and has completed only one pass, to himself…

Rivers is a father of 10 kids and the grandfather of his one-year old grandson, born to his oldest daughter. The Colts reached out to Grandpa Phil to help steer the ship on a desperate final push at the playoffs.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...ip-rivers-44-for-workout-ahead-of-final-month

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Riley Leonard’s Unexpected Chance to Claim the Colts’ QB Job

Assuming Riley Leonard is fully healthy, he has a big opportunity in front of him.

The Colts enter the final four games of the season without clarity at the most important position in football — not because they lack options, but because none of those options are firmly settled. Daniel Jones’ future is murky. Anthony Richardson is under contract and still developing. And the draft and trade markets offer no easy answers. That uncertainty creates a rare evaluation window for Leonard, who now finds himself with the keys to a functional offense and a legitimate chance to change how the organization views its quarterback room heading into 2026.

The biggest contextual factor here is draft capital — or the lack of it. The Colts do not hold a first-round pick, and without premium draft positioning, they’re effectively priced out of the top rookie quarterback market. Even if a passer they liked somehow slid, the cost to move up would be prohibitive. Quarterback-needy teams don’t just pay first-rounders anymore; they pay multiple years of flexibility. For a roster with looming contract decisions and aging veterans, that’s not an attractive path.

That reality changes how teams think. When the top of the draft isn’t accessible, evaluation shifts inward. Development matters more than projection. Live NFL reps matter more than college numbers. Teams begin asking a different question: can someone already in the building become usable, reliable, or even competitive faster and cheaper than an outside solution?

That’s where Riley Leonard enters the equation.

The free-agent landscape doesn’t offer much relief either. Starter-quality quarterbacks rarely reach the open market unless there’s a reason. And if one does, the cost usually exceeds their functional value. Indianapolis doesn’t project as a team that can or should overspend at quarterback this offseason, especially without full clarity on how the current pieces might shake out.

Daniel Jones was supposed to provide that clarity — or at least stability. Instead, his Achilles injury introduces more uncertainty than reassurance. The injury itself is significant; Achilles tears remain one of the most difficult lower-body injuries for quarterbacks to return from in any meaningful way. Even when players come back on schedule, explosion, mechanics, and confidence aren’t guaranteed to follow. Mobility takes time, and confidence in movement sometimes never fully returns.

Jones’ contract status further complicates things. He’s a pending free agent. The Colts don’t know when he’ll be healthy enough to return. They don’t know how effective he’ll be once he does. And they certainly don’t know if committing long-term to a quarterback rehabbing a major injury makes sense without another option ready behind him.

That doesn’t eliminate Jones from the 2026 conversation — but it does put it on pause.

Anthony Richardson remains part of the plan, too, but his situation isn’t as clean as contract language suggests. Yes, he’s under contract. Yes, the upside is undeniable. But development hasn’t followed a straight line, and the organization knows better than anyone that talent alone doesn’t guarantee availability, consistency, or command of an offense. Richardson could absolutely be in the running for the starting job next season — especially if Jones isn’t ready on time — but the Colts can’t afford to treat that outcome as a certainty.

And that’s the theme tying all of this together: uncertainty.

When uncertainty exists at quarterback, teams don’t just search externally. They test internally.

That’s what makes Leonard’s four-game window so meaningful. He isn’t just stepping in to finish a season. He’s entering a structured evaluation period at a time when the franchise needs answers and has limitations on how to acquire them.

Leonard gets something few backup quarterbacks ever receive: continuity. He’s not being thrown into a broken offense or asked to survive chaos. He’s practicing with starters. He’s being given weeks, not days, to prepare. He’s operating behind an offensive line that has performed well this season and receivers who have all had great highs.

He’s also inheriting something else crucial: a good offense. The Colts’ system is functional when executed on schedule. It’s built on defined reads, spacing concepts, quarterback mobility, and situational efficiency. Leonard doesn’t need to transform it — he needs to run it. And his skill set matches more cleanly than people might think.

Leonard can move. That alone changes the geometry of the field. Designed quarterback runs, bootlegs, read options, and broken-play extensions all become part of the weekly plan. In a league that increasingly values quarterbacks who can stress defenses horizontally, Leonard’s running ability isn’t a gimmick — it’s offense.

But this isn’t just about legs. Leonard also gets to showcase his passing ability under real conditions, not relief duty. Timing throws. Third-down conversions. Red-zone decisions. Can he deliver the ball on schedule? Can he avoid negative plays? Can he protect possession while still pushing the ball when opportunities are there?

Those questions matter far more than raw yardage totals.

Another underrated element of this opportunity is preparation. Leonard didn’t parachute into this role. He’s spent most of the season watching a quality quarterback operate the system — seeing protections called, identifying coverages, managing tempo. That time matters. Backup quarterbacks often say the biggest growth leap comes from seeing game plans executed correctly for months before they’re asked to do it themselves.

Leonard now gets to test whether that absorption translates under pressure.

From the Colts’ perspective, this evaluation is efficient. Four real games provide more clarity than an entire offseason of speculation. If Leonard struggles, the team learns. If he functions, the team gains optionality. And if he surprises, the organization suddenly has leverage it didn’t think it would have.

This isn’t about crowning a starter today. It’s about expanding the decision tree tomorrow.

Leonard doesn’t need to be spectacular. He needs to be trustworthy. He needs to show composure, adaptability, and command. If he can do that, he forces his way into the conversation — not just as insurance, but as a legitimate plan in a quarterback landscape that suddenly feels thinner than expected.

Four games won’t determine everything. But they might determine whether Riley Leonard is still considered “depth” come spring — or whether the Colts view him as something more.

And in a league where quarterback questions dominate every offseason, being part of that conversation is often how careers truly begin.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/nfl-an...s-unexpected-chance-to-claim-the-colts-qb-job

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Colts announce roster moves, placing QB Daniel Jones on IR among them

On Tuesday, the Indianapolis Colts announced a number of roster moves, including placing starting quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles) and backup cornerback Chris Lammons (foot) on injured reserve.

The Colts also signed cornerback Cameron Mitchell to the active roster and re-signed cornerback Tony Pride Jr. to the team’s practice squad again.

With veteran cornerback Charvarius Ward also in the concussion protocol, having suffered his third concussion of the season this past Sunday, the Colts clearly were looking to bolster their cornerback depth with some familiar faces—having both Ward and Lammons out of action for Week 15 on the road against the Seattle Seahawks.

Of course, the big news of the day is that 44-year-old since retired longtime veteran quarterback Philip Rivers was reportedly re-signed, only this time around, to the Colts practice squad.

Rookie quarterback Riley Leonard, who suffered a strained knee ligament during this past Sunday’s loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars, could have his availability determine whether Rivers starts on Sunday. It could also depend on how well Rivers practices the remainder of the week ahead of a notoriously stingy Seahawks defense.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...oves-placing-qb-daniel-jones-on-ir-among-them

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Phillip Rivers to the Colts in 2025 is Poetic Perfection

When telling the story of the NFL, there are many chapters and footnotes one must remember to encapsulate what this sport and league is all about. The Colts in their lengthy history have no shortage of these to tell.

They can range wildly in tone and emotions. From a heartwarming story of players rallying behind a coach stricken with leukemia to make miraculous comeback victories to the playoffs.

To the tragic cautionary tale of a quarterback not given enough support around him and medically retiring early in a career thought to be destined for greatness. The Colts truly can encapsulate the full human experience of watching football and its vast spectrum of emotions that come with game we love.

“I’ll always have guilt about how it ended, I let my teammates down.”

Luck talking to @zkeefer about his sudden retirement.

Full article: https://t.co/uxq31LGtsj pic.twitter.com/rJmUGNYJ8T

— Colts Coverage (@Colts_Coverage) August 18, 2025

The 2025 Colts season might just embody the emotional highs and lows alongside the pure unpredictability this game brings. One day you can be 8-2, atop of the AFC and pushing for a 1 seed. You have a Running Back in the rarified air of MVP consideration in the modern era. An All Pro Corner is joining your revamped secondary in a massive midseason blockbuster trade. Your new veteran Free Agent Quarterback is in the midst of a career that can earn him a hefty paycheck with two healthy legs underneath him. The sun is shining, the leaves are pretty autumn hues, and somewhere the late Jim Irsay is smiling.

Current AFC Playoff Picture. #Colts still holding on to the top seed. #ForTheShoe pic.twitter.com/D0WHXmCQDU

— Angela Moryan (@AngelaMoryanTV) November 3, 2025

Then a month later you are 8-5, and outside of the playoff picture. Your Running Back has potentially been passed in Offensive Player of the Year consideration. That All Pro Corner is week to week with a calf injury, and his fellow star Corner has suffered his 3rd Concussion of the season. Your star Defensive Tackle has been missing for the last month and needed stem cell surgery and treatment with a neck injury.

And that possible franchise QB on his way to a hefty payday? He was dealing with a fractured fibula on one leg before tearing his Achilles in the other leg on a non contact play. His top backup can’t suit up in his stead due to a freak pregame accident involving a pole breaking and hitting his face while he was using a resistance band, requiring orbital bone surgery near his eye. The backup’s backup comes in for his first meaningful NFL action and is now week to week with knee soreness, leaving his status up in the air.

The Daniel Jones Achilles injury is awful in so many ways.

But I do want to shed a light on his toughness.

He was already playing with a broken bone in his fibula… Then he ruptured his Achilles and still chose to walk off the field instead of using a cart.

And later in the… pic.twitter.com/tDoKxrqNdK

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) December 8, 2025

You would be justified in feeling a lot of emotions after the whiplash of this past month. Anger. Sadness. Frustration. Hopelessness even. You’ve started looking toward the 2026 Draft for some hope, but the same emotions bubble up to the surface again when you remember the Colts don’t have their 1st Round Pick in 2026 and 2027 thanks to the in hindsight ill-timed all-in trade.

And then, one notification changes everything.

The #Colts are planning to bring potential Hall of Fame QB Philip Rivers into their facility Tuesday to work out to see if he may join their practice squad, per me & @MikeGarafolo.

This is real. Daniel Jones’ season is over, Riley Leonard will start, but Rivers may be an option. pic.twitter.com/H3tQW2R3s7

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 8, 2025

Phillip Rivers. Uncle Grandpa Phil. The sidearmed slinger of the ball who once terrorized the prime Peyton Manning era Colts in the playoffs and briefly went to the Colts for his final season is heading to Indianapolis once again.

The first Quarterback Chris Ballard brought in to replace Andrew Luck once he had an actual offseason to address the position. The last Quarterback to get the Colts into the Playoffs. The first Quarterback current Colts Head Coach Shane Steichen ever coached in the pros back in their days in San Diego when he was starting out as a positional coach.

Shane Steichen Philip Rivers

Two 40-year-old peas in a pod. pic.twitter.com/TWxtfKBMaO

— Noah Compton (@nerlens_) December 9, 2025

It is perfect, it had to be HIM.

Leave the neck-bearded Civil War Captain alone in Palo Alto, he is busy trying to build up his alma mater Stanford’s football program alongside his final NFL coach.

Dearest Mother —
We’ve unearthed 20,000 relics bearing my likeness. They shall be bestowed upon our loyal supporters Nov. 29.
— Andrew

https://t.co/7Z2fGFJTET pic.twitter.com/zGv4jlu7sQ

— Stanford Football (@StanfordFball) October 1, 2025

Keep the GOAT working Monday nights watching games alongside his Patriot-killer brother and a rotating cast of guests, he has contractual duties to ESPN and needs to mentor his nephew to become the next top prospect Manning to enter the draft (sometime in 2027-2028 most likely).

How could you NOT be impressed by this ManningCast masterpiece https://t.co/xkqp4B9pVJ pic.twitter.com/8Kk7XcrFRe

— Omaha Productions (@OmahaProd) November 18, 2025

No, it had to be Phillip Rivers. Rivers never was the conventional great QB. With his unusual side arm throwing release, his danggumit passion paired with bolo ties, and Top 7 All Time Passing Stats with no All Pros nor Super Bowls but 8 Pro Bowls. His career was always marked by unconventionality, ever since his draft night where he was swapped from the New York Giants to the San Diego Chargers with 1st overall pick QB Eli Manning as another option/eventual successor to Drew Brees. If his career should start in an atypical way, why shouldn’t its end follow suit?

2004: HBD Philip Rivers who turns 44. Yes, technically Rivers was property of #NYGiants who selected him 4th overall. Accorsi would have taken Roethlisberger but felt the Chargers wanted Rivers back in a trade for @EliManning. Ernie passed on Big Ben & landed Eli pic.twitter.com/W0KLKoAf9L

— BigBlueVCR (@BigBlueVCR) December 8, 2025

Freshly turned 44 years old this Monday, now a father to 10 kids and a grandfather to 1 grandson, Rivers has reportedly stayed in shape keeping up with his kids and coaching his 4th oldest’s high school football team since 2021.

With just one retweet, you can help send a grandfather on a free vacation with his whole family.#ProBowlVote Phillip Rivers pic.twitter.com/bSSUDsQ5Hg

— Jay Robins (@TheJayRobins) December 9, 2025

This season the Saint Michael Catholic High School Cardinals went to the Alabama 4A semifinals under Coach Rivers. The playbook used to help the team get that far? The same one Shane Steichen uses for the Colts. Gunner Rivers is now the 6th ranked QB prospect nationwide in the 2027 Class thanks in part to that book and his fathers’ tutelage. Shane Steichen and Phillip Rivers reportedly have talked at length of the playbook and feel confident that they are on the same page mentally.

Fun Fact learned in production meetings:

Philip Rivers ran the same offense as the Colts for his son Gunnar’s HS team this season.

He and Shane Steichen spoke weekly about it, discussing plays and even film.

So familiarity with the scheme should be no problem whatsoever.

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) December 9, 2025

Rivers returning also potentially puts his Hall Of Fame candidacy on pause as he is a semi-finalist for the 2026 Class (the eligibility will reset for another 5 years if he is on an active roster, and he is currently on the Practice Squad). But who needs a bust in Canton when there’s still some football left in ya?

Philip Rivers is one of 26 modern-era semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2026. If he signs to the Colts active roster, his name will come off that list, the clock will restart, and his Hall-of-Fame candidacy will be delayed by five years. https://t.co/BJatdz3D1q

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 9, 2025

With all the uncertainty about the Colts, both in the present and the future; the raging waves of doubt, despair, and defeat rocking the boat of what was at one point a season of renewed hope… who better to right the ship than Rivers?

The only other options are either journeymen practice squad QBs that have little to no familiarity with the playbook, hoping that Richardson’s orbital bone injury heals at the very quickest end of a lengthy post-surgery recovery window (2-3 months, although in cases requiring surgery it often is longer), or hoping a 6th round rookie who was once mentored by Rivers and is reliant on his dual threat rushing ability can persevere and stay healthy with lingering knee issues. Safe to say the remaining options weren’t great either at this point.

Can Rivers Save the Colts?​

I will be honest with readers, I don’t know. 44 year old QBs throwing passes in the NFL is a rare enough phenomena, with just 5 such examples in the league’s history.

Passing Stats for QBs after their 44th Birthday in NFL History:

1. Tom Brady
– 1,069/1,609 Passing = 66.4%
– 10,961 Yards
– 73 TDs
– 23 INTs
– 95 Passer Rating

2. Vinny Testaverde
– 49/91 Passing = 53.8%
– 511 Yards
– 4 Pass TDs
– 5 INTs
– 62.1 Passer Rating pic.twitter.com/9BKAGeEdbR

— Jay Robins (@TheJayRobins) December 9, 2025

One of those examples is Tom Brady, who is an outlier in of himself. The rest are Vinny Testaverde, Steve DeBerg, George Blanda, and Warren Moon.

3. George Blanda
– 39/80 Passing = 48.8%
– 494 Yards
– 6 TDs
– 7 INTs
– 57 Passer Rating

4. Steve Deberg
– 30/59 Passing = 50.8%
– 369 Yards
– 3 TDs
– 1 INT
– 80.4 Passer Rating

5. Warren Moon
– 12/31 Passing = 38.7%
– 130 Yards
– 0 TDs
– 1 INT
– 38.4 Passer Rating pic.twitter.com/Y5vfctKK7W

— Jay Robins (@TheJayRobins) December 9, 2025

The results of the other 4 are very underwhelming, although every non-Brady 44+ year old QB didn’t have the benefits of modern medicine, sports science, and played in much different eras than 2025. But none of these QBs, not even Brady himself, retired from the NFL and stayed away from the league for 5 years. Brady did unretire once, but it was after just 40 days of retired life.

A source close to Philip Rivers describes a player who looks in better shape now than when he played.

“It’s a no-brainer for who gives them the best chance.”

Expect a heavy dose of Jonathan Taylor and the Colts’ ground game to support the 44-year-old Rivers. pic.twitter.com/m02yPYM8sZ

— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) December 9, 2025

Reportedly Rivers is in great shape, which paired with his mental sharpness and familiarity with the Colts scheme is encouraging. May we dare to have hope this can work out?

Colts changing their practice schedule for this week

-Pre Philip Rivers: Wednesday walk through, practices Thursday and Friday

-Post Philip Rivers: Practicing all 3 days

— Kevin Bowen (@KBowen1070) December 9, 2025

This is completely uncharted waters, with no historical precedent, so saying anything with absolute certainty feels disingenuous.

Who is Standing in the Way of a Rivers Playoff Return?​

The Colts first face the Seattle Seahawks on the west coast, who at 10-3 boast a Top 2 Defense in the NFL and the new Offensive Player of the Year favorite: Jaxon Smith-Njigba. DeForest Buckner is eligible to come back from IR and maybe Sauce Gardner (who was week to week but not placed on IR, maybe meaning he is out 1-3 games instead of the IR mandatory 4 games) is able to return soon? Right Tackle Braden Smith is in the concussion protocol, unlikely to play. In his stead, 4th Round rookie Jalen Travis could take his first meaningful snaps in the NFL against the elite Seahawks pass rush. Even if the Colts were fully healthy, most would not expect a victory on the road against such fearsome foes.

Phillip Rivers’ potential 1st post-unretirement opponents: a stifling Seattle defense
• 2nd Fewest Points
• 2nd Fewest Yards
• 2nd Fewest Yards/Play
• 2nd Lowest EPA/Play
• 3rd Highest Pressure %
• 4th Most Sacks
• 7th Lowest Blitz %

And likely with a Rd4 rookie backup RT pic.twitter.com/opgm79Czok

— Jay Robins (@TheJayRobins) December 9, 2025

But beyond the first game in Seattle, could there be hope for a late season rally to the playoffs? The 49ers on Monday Night Football in Indianapolis gives the Colts another week for the starters mentioned above to return. Rivers would have a full week with the team and would be able to go back on tape to try to iron out mistakes and miscommunications. And the 49ers aren’t the healthiest squad in the NFL either.

Then the Colts finish their home schedule with a rematch against the Jaguars. While the AFC South rival cats just had a devastating 36-19 victory in Week 14 on a rainy Sunday matchup in Duval, perhaps a healthier Colts with Rivers throwing the ball would fare better. After all the infamous Duval curse upon the Colts has made them unable to win in that stadium since 2015. But since 2013 the Jaguars have gone just 2-10 against the Colts in Lucas Oil. A home field advantage has been very present with these two rivals in the last decade, and it goes both ways.

And finally the Colts travel to Houston to take on the Texans, who controversially beat the Colts 20-16 with some questionable officiating that has plagued the NFL as of late. The Texans have had the leg up on the Colts in recent years, going 5-1-1 since 2022 and winning 4 straight. But in those 4 games, the score differential has been 2-4 points each game, with the Colts narrowly losing.

Texans-Colts pool report with referee Clay Martin: pic.twitter.com/WDZLcsbCzT

— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) November 30, 2025

In another twist of poetic irony, this season finale matchup mirrors the closest season finale the Colts have played in their efforts to make the playoffs post-Rivers’ first stint with the Colts: the ill-fated 2023 season. That one ended with an infamous wide open drop on 4th and 1 by Tyler Goodson in the RedZone with the Colts down by 6 with just over a minute remaining in the game. The 2025 season finale has the potential makings of similar stakes, where the winner of the game would end up the winner of the AFC South Title and make the playoffs while the loser missed the playoffs entirely. The stage certainly isn’t lacking for drama.

Expect a heavy dose of Jonathan Taylor in these matchups, whose rushing threat and workload will be crucial in keeping defenders from pinning their ears back to rush Rivers and help keep the elder Quarterback’s arm fresh.

The Schedule isn’t easy by any means, as all 4 of these opponents are currently in the playoff picture and aren’t planning of getting out of frame. But with that difficulty of the schedule presents opportunity, especially to pass other AFC South Rivals to make the final tournament. Per the New York Times/Athletic’s Playoff Simulator, the Colts have a 20% chance to make the Playoffs. But those percentages can swing wildly in the last 4 games:

• 0 Wins = 8-9 Record: Under 1%
• 1 Win = 9-8 Record: 5% (Win one of the first three games) to 6% (Win vs the Texans)
• 2 Wins = 10-7 Record: 26% (Wins vs both NFC West Teams) to 54% (Wins vs Both AFC South Teams)
• 3 Wins = 11-6 Record: 80% (only Loss to Texans), 97% (only Loss to Jaguars), or Over 99% (only loss to either NFC West Team)
• 4 Wins = 12-5 Record: Over 99%

The Fat Lady hasn’t sung yet on the Colts making the playoffs, she’s just going through her vocal warm-ups. As the Rivers’ signing shows, the Colts haven’t given up their season yet. Should they win 2 wins they have a decent shot at the playoffs. A trio of wins would all but guarantee a playoff berth (no 11-6 team has missed the playoffs since the field was expanded in 2021). Anything less than that and the Colts are likely heading to Cancun in the 2nd week of January.

Philip River coming out of retirement to lead the Colts to the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/HXQVYj0got

— CLew ️ (@droppedballspod) December 9, 2025

Rivers’ return to the Colts embodies what truly makes the theme of the 2025 Colts: chaos.

Forgo expectations, those are for boring fans of normal teams. Embrace the chaos. Can the Colts make the playoffs? Sure. Will they? Probably not. This is a hail-mary of a move to try to save the season. But the fact that it is even a conversation worth having at this point with all the insanity that would make lesser fans start pulling hair and potentially needing to be locked in a padded room? Eh, sanity is boring anyways and doesn’t come with a self-hugging sweater or grippy socks.

The scene in the movie where the Colts owner, played by Sandra Bullock, storms into the GMs office and says “what about Phillip Rivers, can he still play” and the camera pans to the GM and his eyebrows just raise is gonna win an Oscar pic.twitter.com/rzEIT7VS8n

— Joe McCarthy (@JMcCarthy86) December 9, 2025

One has to just laugh and try to enjoy the pure insanity of the twists and turns that this season brings, irregardless of how the final page of this story ends. If it ends without playoffs once again, sure it will be a sad end. If it ends in playoff football it is one of the most iconic berths to the last dance in football history. No matter what, the season won’t be boring and unremarkable.

No, the 2025 Colts season isn’t for rational thought and expectation.

This is a season for all the Uncle Ricos out there who say they are still in their primes and can throw over them mountains…

A revenge on 2004 Draftmate Ben Roethlisberger for passing our Alabama native gunslinger in Yards with an extra season…

Watch Out Big Ben! Rivers has came back from the couch to pass you again for 6th all time in Passing Yards!

Tho a 37 year old whippersnapper Matthew Stafford is hot on Rivers’ heels pic.twitter.com/4a4UfDoZ5b

— Jay Robins (@TheJayRobins) December 9, 2025

A chance to put up stats no 44 year old not named Brady has ever done…

Either one last shot at redemption or the cherry on top of a potential HOF career of never quite being elite or a champion…

Embrace the spectacle, it’s what Jim would want. No expectations, just vibes and chaos. And for that, Phillip Rivers is a perfect fit for the 2025 Colts.

I like the odds of this working out better with a 44 year old Rivers than with a 29 year old Rypien (and probably a 23 year old Leonard).

But I got no expectations right now. There is so much unknown with no historical precedent. Most likely it doesn’t work out, but if it does… https://t.co/9BElyndHvY pic.twitter.com/iJwQo9qLay

— Jay Robins (@TheJayRobins) December 9, 2025

#ForTheBoss

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...ers-to-the-colts-in-2025-is-poetic-perfection

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Colts reportedly inquired on Derek Carr, Sam Ehlinger among other QB replacement options

According to Outkick’s Armando Salguero, the Indianapolis Colts didn’t just reach out to recently re-signed quarterback Philip Rivers among retired veteran options, as the team also reached out to Derek Carr:

“Why are the Colts doing this? Start with the fact they called other quarterbacks to gauge their interest in signing. They called Derek Carr, per a source,” Salguero writes.

The 34-year-old Carr, who’s a decade younger than Rivers, declined the opportunity. The 4x NFL Pro Bowl quarterback played 11 years in the NFL, most notably with the Raiders organization, before retiring this past May due to longstanding pain in his right throwing shoulder which nay have required additional offseason surgery.

During 10 starts for the New Orleans Saints last year, Carr completed 189 of 279 pass attempts (67.7%) for 2,145 total passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns, and 5 interceptions during 10 starts.

However, in the aftermath of starter Daniel Jones’s season-ending torn Achilles injury this past Sunday, Carr wasn’t the only replacement quarterback option that the Colts apparently reached out to over the last 72 hours.

Specifically, per The Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel, Indianapolis also reached out to former Colts quarterback Sam Ehlinger, who’s now on the Denver Broncos practice squad, but the past Texas Longhorn standout declined the opportunity for potentially more realistic immediate playing time.

Originally a 2021 6th round pick of the Colts, Ehlinger obviously knows the Colts offensive playbook and system—having played under current Indianapolis head coach Shane Steichen for the 2023-24 seasons. He has 3 career starts, all for the Colts back in 2022, and last appeared in an NFL game, back in 2023 for Indianapolis.

Ehlinger indicated that “the Colts were trying to bring him in likely along with Rivers,” per Gabriel.

This likely means that the Colts were looking at Ehlinger to fill their QB3 role (or maybe QB2 if Riley Leonard [knee] couldn’t go?) on the 53-man active roster, and backup QB Brett Rypien, who was elevated to the active roster on Wednesday, would’ve presumably remained on their practice squad for additional positional depth.

As for Ehlinger, given that he’s only a listed 6,‘1”, 222 pounds, and having seen the success that Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton previously had with future Hall of Famer Drew Brees (6,’0,” 209 pounds) with the New Orleans Saints, and I can see why he would want to continue to stay in the breathtaking Rocky Mountains. Not to mention, he’s on an 11-2 playoff team right now, whereas Indianapolis will be incredibly lucky to get in.

The Colts also worked out former Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Seth Henigan on Tuesday.

Needless to say, the Colts performed their due diligence among potential quarterback options before bringing back unretired longtime NFL veteran quarterback Philip Rivers for this season’s final stretch run as a starter.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...m-ehlinger-among-other-qb-replacement-options

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Indianapolis Colts Wednesday Injury Report: DT Buckner Returns To Practice

The Indianapolis Colts today released their Wednesday injury report for Week 15 of the NFL season against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

wednesday’s practice report for #INDvsSEA. pic.twitter.com/VrX7lRiE0g

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) December 10, 2025

Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner was a limited participant at practice today with a neck injury. Buckner had been on injured reserve due to a back injury for the past 4 weeks. If the Colts can get him back for the last few weeks of the regular season, it would be a huge boost for the defense.

Cornerback Sauce Garner continues to miss practice this week after sustaining a calf injury two weeks ago. Gardner will likely miss practice all week and be ruled out of Sunday’s road game in Seattle. The hope is for him to return before the end of the regular season.

Rookie quarterback Riley Leonard was a full participant today. Leonard was thrust into a starting role on Sunday after Daniel Jones exited with a torn Achilles. Leonard managing a full practice today keeps his availability open should he be needed to start Sunday vs the Seahawks. The quarterback position is so upside down at the moment but having Leonard as an option is positive news.

Defensive end Tyquan Lewis missed practice today with a groin injury. Lewis continues his weekly battle with his groin injury rehab again. Lewis will likely practice in some capacity tomorrow before the team makes a decision on his availability on Friday.

Right tackle Braden Smith missed practice today with neck and concussion injuries. Smith had entered the concussion protocol and will likely miss this week’s game whilst trying to pass through safely. If Smith is unable to play, expect a start for rookie Jalen Travis at right tackle or 2nd-year offensive guard Dalton Tucker at right guard.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...-injury-report-dt-buckner-returns-to-practice

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Colts QB Daniel Jones has heartfelt thank you to fans following season-ending injury

Indianapolis Colts injured starting quarterback Daniel Jones took to his personal Instagram account to communicate a heartfelt thank you to his teammates, the coaching staff, and the Horseshoe Faithful (via The Athletic’s James Boyd):

Daniel Jones via IG:

“Thank you to my teammates, the coaches, the #Colts organization, and all the fans for the overwhelming support. Tough way to end the season but it has been an honor to wear the horseshoe and play for Colts fans. I’ll miss lining up with my guys …” pic.twitter.com/xGcA9CE8S5

— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) December 12, 2025

Of course, Jones deserves a lot of credit and should be lauded for his leadership and toughness, having started and played through a fractured fibula through the team’s last three games. Unfortunately, that fractured fibula in his left leg, may have led to his right leg attempting to overcompensate physically, which buckled, non-contact, late in the first quarter of last Sunday’s road loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars—as Jones tore his right Achilles.

Jones underwent season-ending surgery earlier this week and on the optimistic end, faces at least a 9 month recovery timetable.

As a pending priority free agent for the Colts, the significant injury could complicate his future contract negotiations coming up this offseason. At the very least, that long-term deal with Indianapolis that Jones once had been anticipating may be reduced to a 1-2 year ‘prove it’ deal.

Still, there may be some recognition from the Colts top brass, including ownership, that Jones cost himself some additional financial stability by playing through the injury, when he easily could’ve just shut it down a few weeks ago. Instead, Jones faces an even longer road to recovery, and questions of whether he’ll regain his prior form physically.

Without a 2026 first round pick, and unlikely to re-sign a 45-year-old Philip Rivers at season’s end (at least I think?), Jones still makes sense for Indianapolis to bring back on a shorter-term deal. That being said, it’s possible that the Minnesota Vikings, who’ve seen a lot more lows than highs with former fist rounder J.J. McCarthy at quarterback could look to bring Jones back, having vied with Indy this past offseason for him.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...nk-you-to-fans-following-season-ending-injury