News Colts Team Notes

[Indianapolis Colts]

Philip Rivers returning to the Colts is the thing of movies

Get your popcorn ready because things are about to get good or go terribly wrong. Either way, the scene the Indianapolis Colts are setting due to their reunion with Philip Rivers will be the thing of movies. How could it not be? The man is 44-years old and has been away from the NFL for five years. Yes, he has done some high school coaching, but come on… Rivers has been out of the game so long, almost half the league is comprised of new faces. The Colts are banking on him being their Hail Mary by choosing an unorthodox path. The last time they did something unique, it blew up in their faces. Whether it works out or not, it certainly won’t disappoint.

Remember when Jim Irsay decided Jeff Saturday was the best man to lead the team as the interim head coach? Saturday won his first game and that is where the movie should have ended; Rudy gets hoisted on the shoulders of his teammates and carried off the field. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case as the rest of the season turned into a nightmare as the Colts went winless and were part of the biggest collapse in NFL history against the Vikings. Not all movies are success stories. Some are horror films and that is exactly what that season turned into. The talking heads called it a circus as things completely bottomed out. It was entertaining, not in a “I like this” kind of way but in a not being able to look away from a train wreck sort of way.

Rivers returning to the Colts has that written all over it. All signs are pointing to him starting on Sunday against the Seahawks in what would have been an incredibly tough game even when the Colts were at their peak. Don’t try to sneak into another movie, though, even if this first game doesn’t go down as a win. The main character usually faces adversity early on so the triumph is that much sweeter. Rivers could still string together three at the end to make this a true superhero moment. We could also witness a Brett Favre moment in which the last image is him flat on his back being helped off the field; a man in his forties trying to play a young man’s game. Seattle’s defense will be coming at him in droves. It might all prove too much. If that is the case, the Colts will be the laughingstock of the league for attempting to pull off an incredibly foolish move. It will be a dramedy with the Colts in crisis mode while the rest of the league points and laughs.

No one knows how this will all turn out, but it will make fans tune in for sure. If Philip Rivers gets the start this week, what would have had most fans using the time for Christmas shopping will now have them tuning in to see how this all goes. The intrigue will be there at least one more week. Will fans see the hero that comes in at the eleventh hour to save the day or watch on as a dream season dies in front of their eyes with a whimper? This is the stuff movies are made of, the improbable. Rivers will work to keep the movie running as long as possible, but the credits are waiting in the wings, ready to roll.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...returning-to-the-colts-is-the-thing-of-movies

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Indianapolis Colts Injury – RT Smith, CB Gardner And WR Gould Ruled OUT

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

friday's practice report for #INDvsSEA. pic.twitter.com/N24QZmk3KY

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) December 12, 2025

Right tackle Braden Smith has been ruled OUT for this Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks due to neck and concussion injuries. Smith has been unable to practice all week, and therefore, will be unavailable this Sunday. In his place, it will likely be rookie Jalen Travis who starts at right tackle.

Cornerback Sauce Gardner has been ruled OUT for this Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks with a calf injury. Gardner is still rehabbing a calf injury that is likely to sideline him for multiple weeks. Gardner hid not practice all week. With Gardner out this week, expect Mekhi Blackmon and Jaylon Jones to start at outside corner, with veteran Charvarius Ward (concussion) having been placed on injured reserve again earlier this week.

Wide receiver (special teams returnman) Anthony Gould has been ruled OUT of this Sundays game against the Seattle Seahawks with a foot injury. This won’t be the first game Gould has missed this year with injury. Josh Downs will likely take over Gould’s returning duties in his absence.

Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner had been ruled OUT of this Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks with a neck injury. Buckner is still trying to work his way back from injured reserve but after three limited practices this week, it was too soon for him to return to game action.

Defensive end Tyquan Lewis has been ruled as QUESTIONABLE for this Sundays game against the Seattle Seahawks due to a groin injury. Lewis has managed two practices this week including a full practice today. Lewis looks like he may have a good shot at playing this week, but will be one to watch out for on the inactives list.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...ry-rt-smith-cb-gardner-and-wr-gould-ruled-out

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Colts sign QB Philip Rivers to active roster, place RT Braden Smith on IR among moves

The Indianapolis Colts announced that the team has signed recently unretired longtime NFL quarterback Philip Rivers from their practice squad to the 53-man active roster.

It was an expected move that paves the way for the 44-year-old quarterback (and freshly turned grandpa), who was surprisingly re-signed by the Colts earlier this week after not playing football for going on five years, to start this Sunday on the road against the Seattle Seahawks—and their stingy defense.

It also means that Rivers, who was named one of 26 modern-era semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026, will see his eligibility postponed to 2031 at the earliest.

Something that Rivers doesn’t seem to mind at all, when asked this past week.

As such, it’s shaping up to be Rivers starting with rookie Riley Leonard, who’s healthy following a knee injury suffered during last weekend’s loss, as the QB2 and recently promoted Brett Rypien as QB3.

Otherwise, the Colts announced that starting veteran right tackle Braden Smith (concussion/neck) will be placed on injured reserve, which means he’ll miss the remainder of the 2025 regular season. In his absence, rookie offensive tackle Jalen Travis is projected to start, who filled in for him last weekend.

The Colts also elevated wide receiver Coleman Owen and veteran defensive tackle Chris Wormley to the active roster from their practice squad for this Sunday’s road game at Seattle. Backup wideout (and special teams returnman) Anthony Gould (“foot”) has been ruled out, so Owen is likely his roster replacement for this week.

Meanwhile, DeForest Buckner (neck) isn’t quite ready to return, so Wormley provides veteran interior depth.

Lastly, backup rotational defensive lineman Tyquan Lewis (ankle), who provides versatility, has seen his ‘questionable’ injury designation removed from the team’s injury report and should be ready to roll tomorrow.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...oster-place-rt-braden-smith-on-ir-among-moves

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Colts QB Daniel Jones may reportedly face shorter timeline for Achilles recovery than expected

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Indianapolis Colts injured starting quarterback Daniel Jones may face a shorter recovery from his season-ending Achilles surgery than initially expected.

It was first speculated to be at least a 9-month recovery timeline for Jones, who underwent successful surgery to repair his torn Achilles this past Tuesday, which would’ve pushed him closer to the start of the 2026 regular season opener.

However, Schefter reported on Saturday that it could be closer to 6-8 months before returning for Jones, who’s now expected to be cleared by his next team’s training camp:

“Daniel Jones underwent surgery Tuesday in New York that is expected to sideline him for six to eight months, giving the Indianapolis Colts quarterback the ability to be fully cleared for the start of next summer’s training camp, sources told ESPN,” Schefter writes.

“The belief still is that Jones will play next year in Indianapolis, but his contract expires after this season and he is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent.”

That seems a bit optimistic for the pending free agent quarterback, who assuredly will be a priority one for Indianapolis—albeit potentially with the franchise tag at play or on a shorter-term deal.

I’m also not a medical doctor though.

It’s also worth noting that even if Jones does return that soon, what kind of shape will he actually be in? Torn Achilles can sap explosiveness, and often times, it’s a longer road to recovery for pro athletes to regain their prior form—if they even do at all. Jones plays quarterback, which may be easier to recover at, but it’ll take a bit.

Still, the new pairing largely worked out well during Jones debut campaign with the Colts, as he helped lead and run one of the league’s most prolific offenses at 8-2 before he was limited in mobility by playing through a fractured fibula which hindered the offense’s effectiveness in more recent weeks collectively.

The Colts have since lost three straight games and are now on the outside looking in for the AFC’s playoffs.

Jones should be lauded for his leadership and toughness playing through the fractured fibula, which have arguably led the torn Achilles, as his right healthy leg tried to overcompensate. There’s presumably some recognition from the Colts ownership and top brass that Jones cost himself some money and job security by trying to help his team win games, playing through the initial injury and presumably some lower leg pain.

While Jones torn Achilles complicates his future contract negotiations with the Colts, who didn’t negotiate an extension with Jones in season, it’s not as though Indianapolis has many other viable options regardless.

The team does not have a first round pick in 2026 to find a successor, the 44-year-old Philip Rivers is merely a late season band aid, and it seems unlikely that the Colts will turn back to since demoted quarterback Anthony Richardson again next season, unless there’s an injury at their starting quarterback position.

Bringing Jones back on a 1-2 year deal for Indianapolis makes sense for both sides, given the success they shared, but a past serious suitor of Jones, the Minnesota Vikings specifically, shouldn’t be entirely ruled out either.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...-timeline-for-achilles-recovery-than-expected

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Colts got shades of vintage Philip Rivers in his first half back

The NFL world was understandably caught up in the Philip Rivers returns saga this past week. Coming out of retirement after five years away warrants being the storyline of the week — or in this case, the remainder of the season — and all of the hype surrounding it was valid.

While he undoubtedly had to dust off some cobwebs, Philip Rivers largely remained the same player we saw walk off the field ’for good’ following the Colts’ Wild Card playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills in 2020-21.

In his first half back versus the Seattle Seahawks, aka the NFL’s 2nd-best scoring defense (17.4 PPG allowed) entering Week 15, Philip Rivers did his thing to help the Colts maintain a 13-6 lead going into the half. Here’s how he fared against the Seahawks in his first half of NFL football in half a decade:

10-16 (62.5%), 81 passing yards (5.1 avg), 1 passing TD, sacked once, 96.1 Passer Rating

He certainly doesn’t look like himself physically, but has remained as cerebral as ever. It’s evident that the game is as slow as it used to be for Rivers, as he’s only seen a handful of expected mishaps thus far. As anticipated, there’s little to no zip on his throws, but his and head coach Shane Steichen’s collective mind has turned in a respectable first half outing.

From screens to crossing routes, Shane Steichen is setting his veteran, older brother-esque quarterback up for success, and Grandpa Phil has, for the most part, gotten the job done. Philip Rivers’s return to quarterbacking has indeed been like riding a bike (mentally), but is it enough to go the distance?

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...-vintage-philip-rivers-in-his-first-half-back

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Colts’ Monday Morning Awards: Week 15 @Seahawks

8-6, four losses in a row, and the playoffs look further and further away each week, but gaddumit this one was fun. I cannot bring myself to be mad about this one. Yes it would have been amazing to win it, especially after being so close, but everyone gave their uttermost effort yesterday, and the coaching was elite, against such a tough and formidable opponent. It was also Philip Rivers’ first game back, and to my surprise he actually looked somewhat decent, which gives me a bit of hope for the end.

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MVP of the Game: Blake Grupe​

Where have you been this entire year dear Grupe? Having just been brought off the Saints’ practice squad, Grupe nailed all his kicks including a 60-yarder for the win. Simply amazing stuff for a player that assured himself a job for the final three weeks, and with Rivers’ limited athleticism there is a decent chance that the Colts are more conservative in 4th down, leading to more opportunities for him. I predict an upcoming camp battle between him and Spencer Shrader for the Colts’ kicking job next season.

Dud of the Game (The Grigsy): Vacant​

It is really hard to find someone to blame for the outcome of the game. This was a team playing a quarterback coming off five years retired, two backup tackles for most of the game, without their starting cornerbacks, and their best defensive player in DeForest Buckner, against one of the hottest teams in the NFL, away from home. They showed pride, and they showed a fire that I have not seen from this team in recent history. I can always tolerate losing, but what I can never tolerate is playing without passion.

Best play of the Game: Rivers’ touchdown pass to Downs​

PHILIP RIVERS THROWING TDs IN 2025

INDvsSEA on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/Pp98lKDPlZ

— NFL (@NFL) December 14, 2025

Not an amazing play per-se, but the emotions behind Rivers’ first touchdown pass since coming out of retirement, and what it meant for everyone on the sidelines and for this team, this was clearly the play of the game. Honorable mention goes to Grupe’s 60-yard field goal to give the Colts the lead late in the game, amazing stuff from the kicker there.

Worst play of the Game: Myers’ 56-yard game winner​

Hats off to Myers who nailed a 56-yard game winner right down the middle. What was bad was not the game winner but the drive that put the Seahawks in field goal position when a single stop would have been enough to seal the game, but it is hard blaming a defense that held one of the hottest offenses in the NFL to just 18-points playing without their three best players.

Best position group: Offensive line​

Missing their two starting tackles after Braden Smith was ruled out with a concussion and Raimann left before the half dealing with an arm injury, having to protect a 44-year old statue with zero mobility, the offensive line more than held their own against one of the most productive pass-rushing units in the league. Hats off to the offensive line, that had been struggling recently, but played an amazing game yesterday.

Unsung hero: Nick Cross​

Cross continues being the most consistent defensive player on the Colts’ roster, and is right there with Alec Pierce for the most important guys to re-sign in the offseason. He has formed one of the best safety duos with Bynum, and with the two shutdown cornerbacks coming back next season Anarumo would be able to use him more as a box defender, which seems to be his biggest strength. Let’s just hope that the Colts end up having the cap space to keep him around.

Rookie of the Week: Tyler Warren​

Not much production from either Warren or JTT, but Tyler ends up getting the award based solely on a 17-yard catch down the middle on 2nd and 11 that allowed the Colts to go on and score the only touchdown of the game. After starting off scorching hot Warren has cooled off considerably in recent weeks, as has the entire Colts’ offense, so it is hard to blame him in particular.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian.../colts-monday-morning-awards-week-15-seahawks

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Two Colts linebackers claimed off their practice squad on Monday by playoff hopefuls

On Monday, the Indianapolis Colts lost two linebackers off their practice, as Chad Muma and Anthony Walker Jr were claimed by the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers respectively.

Having been claimed from the Jacksonville Jaguars from final 53-man roster cuts, Muma appeared in 5 games for the Colts this season, recording 5 tackles (3 solo). The 26-year-old linebacker was waived by the Colts on November 1st before later being re-signed to the team’s practice squad prior to New England poaching him.

As for Walker Jr., the 30-year-old, former 5th round pick of the Colts had yet to appear in a game for Indianapolis so far this season. After being released by Tampa Bay in late August, he was re-signed to the Colts practice squad on September 1st before the Bucs now claimed him and brought him back.

The veteran linebacker made 48 starts for Indianapolis from 2017-20, recording 343 tackles (229 solo), 3.5 sacks, 3 interceptions, 11 passes defensed, a forced fumble, and 2 fumble recoveries during that same span.

With Jaylon Carlies surprisingly a healthy scratch last weekend, the Colts don’t necessarily have the same dire need at linebacker as the defense did to start the season, largely because of injuries and a lack of suitable replacements back then. The signing of veteran linebacker Germaine Pratt has helped a lot in that regard.

That being said, we wish both of these linebackers well at their next NFL stop, just not against the Colts.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...-practice-squad-on-monday-by-playoff-hopefuls

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Colts have already made decision on starting QB for MNF against 49ers

According to head coach Shane Steichen, the Indianapolis Colts have already made a decision on who will start at quarterback for next Monday night’s matchup hosting the San Francisco 49ers.

It will be veteran quarterback Philip Rivers again for a consecutive start (via ESPN’s Stephen Holder):

For the record (though it was assumed), Colts coach Shane Steichen says Philip Rivers will start next week's game against the 49ers on Monday Night Football.

— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) December 15, 2025

Having not played pro football in nearly 5 years, the 44-year-old Rivers ‘did a lot of good’ on the road against one of the league’s best defenses, with Indianapolis narrowly pulling off the shocking road upset in the game’s closing seconds. It wasn’t perfect by any means, but Rivers showed a lot of grit and leadership under the circumstances.

Rivers nearly set the Colts up for a game-winning 60 yard field goal, with a narrow 16-15 lead, and just 47 seconds left (and Seattle with no timeouts), but the Indy defense—which had been strong all day, couldn’t hold.

The unretired grizzled veteran quarterback finished his late afternoon, completing 18 of 27 pass attempts for 120 passing yards, a passing touchdown, and an interception (which was a desperation heave in the final seconds).

While Rivers showed clear limitations with his diminished arm strength, particularly with Indy’s lack of downfield opportunities, his pre-snap recognition and processing through his passing progressions remained elite, especially having shaken off a lot of dust under short notice—and picked up the Colts playbook on the fly.

Playing in one of the toughest and loudest road environment against that defense? It was impressive.

It remains to be seen if it will work as effectively, given that opposing defenses now know that Rivers isn’t likely to challenge them deep in the passing game downfield—and a lot of his shorter to intermediate throws may be closely contested. Eventually, Rivers may have to better test his arm vertically for a calculated shot or two.

In the end though, Rivers is still the best of readily available starting quarterback options right now.

The Colts coaching staff clearly does not feel that rookie quarterback Riley Leonard is ready to be a full-time QB1 yet, having spent of training camp, preseason, and this season with him on the scout team until recently. Keep in mind that the Indianapolis top brass has regretted rushing Anthony Richardson to the field so soon in 2023, and may be looking to better protect Leonard’s growth and development, while keeping his confidence up.

Speaking of Richardson, while if fully healthy, he may arguably be the Colts best starting option and was recently cleared for physical activities, it doesn’t sound like his return to being a starter is imminent. Specifically, he may not realistically be ready to go until the Colts 2025 season has already concluded in three weeks; time. Brett Rypien appears to be more of just an organizational QB3 option.

That means it’s ‘Old Man Rivers’ for another week, who hopefully will look even more comfortable in primetime.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...decision-on-starting-qb-for-mnf-against-49ers

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Colts add three offensive linemen to practice squad to reinforce unit’s depleted depth

The Indianapolis Colts signed offensive guards LaDarius Henderson and Bill Murray, as well as offensive tackle Zach Thomas to their practice squad.

Regarding Henderson, the 6’4”, 309 pound offensive guard was selected by the Houston Texans in the 7th round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The former CFP National Champion and All-Big Ten offensive guard for Michigan has yet to appear in an NFL game. He was a member of the Cleveland Browns practice squad earlier this season.

Meanwhile, Murray at 6,3”, 321 pounds, is a former undrafted free agent who played from the New England Patriots from 2020-23 and spent time with the Chicago Bears and later, returned to New England on their practice squad. The former FCS All-American and 2x All-CAA member has appeared in 4 career games.

Lastly, Thomas is a 6,5”, 305 pound offensive tackle who was originally a 2022 6th round pick of the Chicago Bears. He later spent time with the Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, and Houston Texans organizations. The All-MW conference member has appeared in 17 career games.

Of course, the Colts have some injuries along their offensive line. Specifically, starting veteran right tackle Braden Smith (concussion/neck) was placed on injured reserve and will miss the remainder of the 2025 season. Adding further injury, starting left tackle Bernhard Raimann suffered an elbow injury last Sunday and didn’t return.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...ctice-squad-to-reinforce-units-depleted-depth

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

The Colts could make things very interesting down the stretch

The margin for error is gone. Another loss for the Indianapolis Colts in the 2025 season would mark the end. Things are looking dire, but not all hope is lost. They have tough games ahead of them, but they have the best possible games too. The schedule lines up perfectly with what they are trying to accomplish, and while there will be many factors in play that will make it difficult to predict where everything will land, the Colts still have a shot.

Obviously, it all starts this week with the 49ers on Monday Night Football. Not to look past this game as it will be incredibly difficult, but without that win, the rest of this is moot. If Philip Rivers and the Colts can find a way to squeak out a win at home over one of the better teams in the NFC, things get good. A home game against the Jaguars on December 28th looms. Before that, the Jaguars are on the road against the top seeded Broncos. There is a real possibility they drop that one giving them five losses on the year. The Colts can’t beat the Jaguars in Jacksonville but have had success in Indianapolis. Pulling that game off, coupled with a loss in Denver, the Jaguars would be statistically tied at 10-6 and 3-2 in the division. With one more game in the division and both needing a win, we would start to go down the tie breaker rules to decide this one.

Ok, so the Jaguars lost to the Broncos and the Colts beat the 49ers and Jaguars. What’s next? The Texans. They are one game up with the tie breaker over the Colts. They have a cupcake game against the Raiders but then travel to Los Angeles to take on the Chargers who are fighting for a Wild Card. That is the game the Colts hope they drop because these two teams meet the last week of the season in Houston. The Colts would still have to win week eighteen but they would outright pass the Texans instead of needing tie breakers. If the Texans beat the Chargers but lose to the Colts, both teams would sit at 11-6. Same scenario as the Jaguars except there could be a three way tie for the division and a remaining Wild Card spot. What a mess.

A mess is what the Colts want at this point. To create it, they must win out. There is nothing easy about that but it isn’t impossible either. Two home games. One on the road. Two of the teams they know well and have already seen this year. They lost both but could be primed for a bounce back. Unfortunately, some of this is out of the Colts’ hands. The Jaguars are in the driver’s seat, but a stumble on the road could open the door for the Colts. All hope is not lost. Yes, it is dwindling, but the Colts could still make some noise this season.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...make-things-very-interesting-down-the-stretch

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Colts’ Week 15 QB Analysis: It Is What It Is

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)

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Obviously, an out-of-shape 44-year-old with just four days to prepare for what is probably the 2nd toughest defense in the league provides context that shouldn’t be ignored. But ignore it, I will.

I measure QBs by how well they played and look for numbers that point to how well they may perform in the future. While I can certainly guess that Philip Rivers could improve with more time in the system, that is just that: a guess. I’m not interested in ifs and buts, so I will simply compare him to the 31 other QBs who played on Sunday.

HOW WELL?​

Rivers produced a high volume of negative plays, leading to one of the worst success rates of the week and, in turn, a very poor EPA per play.

His biggest negative plays came on unconverted 3rd downs, and converting even a few of those would have gone a long way toward a win.

The next graphs show team-level comparisons, allowing you to see how he lined up against Daniel Jones. Rivers’ numbers are not good, but they also aren’t much worse than what the Colts saw in the previous few weeks.

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HOW FAR?​

He completed a high percentage of his passes, but that efficiency didn’t translate into first downs. With just 4.6 yards per attempt, sustaining drives was almost impossible.

Passing depth dropped off a cliff, as checkdowns and quick throws made up the bulk of the passing strategy. I guess I can’t call it a one-dimensional offense—maybe 1.5?

A game and a half without Jones and the offense suddenly became YAC-dependent, dropping five spots on the next graph.

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TO WHO?​

Warren had the most targets, which I expected, but Abdullah had the most yards, which I did not.

Pierce has snuck by both Warren and Pittman as yards leader.

Downs and Warren jump out at me on this chart. Both should have been higher value, and Downs should have had more depth on his targets.

Season numbers still look good, for what it’s worth.

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HOW ACCURATE?​

Although completion rate was high, accuracy was a problem—but not more so than in the previous three weeks.

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HOW FAST?​

Rivers is known for getting rid of the ball quickly and avoiding sacks, so it should be no surprise that he got rid of the ball quickly and avoided sacks.

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TO WHERE?​

This tells me his arm has a straight-line effective range of about 20 yards, which means you shouldn’t expect many successful passes beyond 10 air yards on the sidelines.

Again, on the season, all looks OK.

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DASHBOARD​

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

Here’s what happened in week 15:

• The run game struggled, which is unfortunate given that the Colts tied as the most run-first team of the week (29th ARSR, 30th EDP).
• Rivers faced very little pressure, primarily due to his ridiculously quick release time (32nd PR%, 30th TTT).
• Along with the quick throws came short targets and, unsurprisingly, shallow completion depth (29th ADOT, 31st AY/C).
• To compensate for short completion depth, you need a high completion rate and/or high YAC, and the Colts were just average in both, which led to poor yardage efficiency (18th AC%, 19th YAC, 31st AYPA).
• As expected, Rivers didn’t scramble, didn’t take sacks, and threw the ball away when he ran out of time (29th SCR%, 22nd SCK%, 8th TA%). That gave him one of the lowest abandon rates in the league—which, contrary to what some current NFL fans think, is a good thing (27th AA%). It didn’t really help overall yardage efficiency, though (30th NY/P).
• The low yards per play made it difficult to convert first downs and score touchdowns (25th 1st%, 21st TD%).
• The final-play interception was a desperation toss, so even though he technically finished with a high turnover rate, it had very little negative impact (9th TO%).

All of that combines to be the 30th ranked success rate and 28th ranked EPA efficiency. Not good. Not unexpected. Also not good . . . did I already say that?

This is Rivers’ efficiency curve for the week and it tells the story.

The left side of the graph shows his very short passing target depth, and nothing occurred to lift the curve from that starting point. Typical ways to lift the curve are a high completion rate, high YAC, or frequent first-down conversions and touchdowns. None of that happened.

If he plays against the 49ers, I expect more of the same. Although their 24th-ranked defense may provide enough of a window for some of those close misses to become close hits and that could have a major impact on the outcome.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/nfl-an...83/colts-week-15-qb-analysis-it-is-what-it-is

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Indianapolis Colts discussion: How confident are you in this team’s future?

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.

Take our survey, and discuss your thoughts with your fellow Colts fans in the comments!

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...-rivers-afc-south-standings-record-confidence

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Indianapolis Colts Thursday Injury Report: QB Richardson Makes His Return

The Indianapolis Colts today released their Thursday injury report for Week 16 of the NFL season against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football.

thursday’s practice report for #SFvsIND. pic.twitter.com/qgSCUV3GSS

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) December 18, 2025

Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner was a full participant at practice today. Buckner is working his way back from a neck injury that landed him on injured reserve. Buckner managed a full week of limited practice last week and looks to be making steady progress towards a return to game time soon.

Cornerback Sauce Gardner missed practice today with a calf injury. Gardner still looks a way off from returning from his calf injury that was described as week to week. It appears Gardner is heading for another week of missed action.

Wide receiver Alec Pierce was limited at practice today with an Achilles injury. Colts beat reporters have said it was very much precautionary rather than a new injury. Hopefully Pierce can bounce back this week in time to play Sunday.

Left tackle Bernhard Raimann missed practice today with an elbow injury. Raimann exited the Seahawks game due to injuring his elbow and did not end up returning despite coming back to the sidelines. Raimann was an onlooker at practice today despite not managing to take part. He will be one to watch closely this week.

Quarterback Anthony Richardson made his return to practice today. Richardson was limited as he works his way back from a broken orbital bone near his eye. The Colts officially opened his 21 day practice window from injured reserve.

Wide receiver Josh Downs and linebacker Germaine Pratt both missed practice today due to personal reasons. Hopefully both are ok and will make a quick return to practice when ready.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...-injury-report-qb-richardson-makes-his-return

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Can Philip Rivers truly save this season for the Colts?

The Indianapolis Colts are still alive in the playoff chase. If they win their next three games there is a really good chance they at least make the final wild card spot. Considering where things were to start the year, that is highly disappointing. Considering where things have been the last month, they’ll take it. It is still a tall task, and they are asking Philip Rivers to carry them over the finish line. We know the story by now, and we have a game worth of data. Based on that and the pending opponents, will it be enough?

Rivers as a NFL quarterback looked pedestrian against the Seahawks last week. Rivers as retired quarterback coming back to the NFL after being away for five years, actually looked decent. The arm strength wasn’t seen much and some of the passes floated and looked a little wobbly, but what could reasonably be expected? Does he look better in week two? Maybe because he will have had more time to adjust and a game under his belt to settle his nerves. Regardless, the best he can offer is the best the Colts are going to get. They got close in that game, but to expect Rivers to take this team to the playoffs is asking a lot.

Once again, given the circumstances, his overall performance wasn’t terrible. Then again, it wasn’t great either. Rivers was 18/27 passing with 120-yards. That won’t get it done, especially not against really good teams in the 49ers, Jaguars, and Texans. The Colts will lean on Jonathan Taylor as much as humanly possible, but teams have to respect the pass. We haven’t seen anything like this before so it is difficult to know what to fully expect. Rivers may have found his rhythm and a better connection with his receivers. Everything could look different come Monday night. Fans need to be cautiously optimistic at best, however, as the ask is huge. This team was on a downward trajectory and wasn’t looking like a team that was one piece away. Add on that they were scraping the bottom of the quarterback barrel in week fifteen and Rivers was the best they could do with the slim pickings.

Philip Rivers is a professional and a great one at that, but even he has limitations. He can’t outrun time. Heck, he can’t outrun defenders at this point either. Quick passes are his specialty. Get it out to the running backs and tight ends in the flat and lean on the run game. Other players are going to have to step up. We saw the offensive line rise to the task and the defense was firm as well. It will take a group effort if the Colts want to make the playoffs. Just don’t ask Rivers to do it alone.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...philip-rivers-deliver-a-miracle-for-the-colts

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

What sort of miracle would it take for the Colts to advance to the playoffs?

Lets start with the elephant in the room. The three remaining teams on the schedule, are a combined 29 – 13. Two of those teams have beaten the Colts in the last three weeks and the third team is from the strongest division in the league and has every reason to treat the game as a must win. Another thing working against our guys is the injuries to Jones, Gardner, Ward, Smith, and Raimann, not to mention Buckner. We may get a couple of them back over the next three weeks, but this group makes up a healthy chuck of salary, so the team is missing much of the core that they were counting on.

Our QB is limited and I feel like I am being kind. Do you want to know why our OL looked serviceable against one of the top defenses last week? Seattle didn’t go after Rivers much at all. Rather than sending an extra guy that would leave an opening somewhere in the secondary, they correctly decided that since the ball was coming out quickly, just make him throw into tighter windows. Without the threat of the deep ball, they had seven guys to cover 15 – 20 yards. It is basically a red zone defense, no matter where you are on the field.

So, looking at the charts, if the Colts go 3 – 0, they have approximately a one in three chance to make the playoffs as the division winner, the 6th seed, or the 7th seed. It would mean that there was only a 2% chance that they were excluded from the tourney.

Starting with game one, lets dream that there is a raucous crowd for a Monday Night game and the defense forces four turnovers, with one of them producing immediate points. Rivers and Grupe stay clean and the Colts emerge victorious. In the mean time, The Jags lose to Denver and the Texans handle the Raiders, but maybe a physical game slows them down a little. Colts 9 -6, Jags 10 – 5, Texans 10-5.

During our game, we again see Rivers trying to loosen his shoulder on the sidelines. He tries to soldier through it, but a total quacker of a pass makes him realize that he simply cant threaten the D with his arm and he hands over the reigns to his mentee. Leonard looks calmer and Rivers is in his ear between each series to the point that the 6th rounder actually looks good. A couple of “dag-gummits, you can do this” later, Leonard looks more like a guy at the end of his first season, rather than the beginning. I have not made it a secret that I believe that Leonard gives us the better chance to win, because we can use more of the playbook. If Rivers can’t go and knows he cant go, he has to make the call.

Week 17 sees Jacksonville come to town with a 60% chance to win the South with a win vs. the Colts. Lucas Oil is not the same house of horrors as Duvall County. Sauce and Buck are as close to healthy as they are going to get at this late date. Another inspired crowd and defensive effort hands the Colts a lead and they do what they do when they have a lead, which is feed JT. Houston travels to play the Chargers, who are also playing for their playoff lives. The Chargers can ease some of the burden of the history of their late season collapses and Herbert is good enough to do to the Texans, what the big four (Mahomes, Jackson, Allen, and Burrow) regularly do to them in the playoffs. Colts 10 – 6, Jags 10 -6, Texans 10 – 6.

Week 18 would mean that there is not chance for a 3-way tie, unless the miracle event occurred where we tied the Texans and the Jags tied the Titans. For miracles sake, lets say that us beating the Texans is less of a miracle than us tying them, while the Jags also tie. I can’t consciously pick the Titans to beat anyone, especially on the road. A Colts win would mean that the Colts and Jacksonville tied for the division title with 11 – 6 records. I think it would go the 5th tie-breaker. This one is called the, “Strength of victory” tie-breaker. It is defined as the combined record of all of the teams that you have beaten. I do not believe this is a good one for the Colts.

I think we have to have something unexpected, like the Jags losing out, to have a chance to win the East. We’ve played better at home, so that would be a bummer, but the most encouraging thing about what would lie ahead is that there is every chance that Allen is the only A-list QB that you would have to go through. The Bills and Broncos are the co-favorites as far as the betting line concerned, but neither look as formidable as the Chiefs, Ravens and Bengals of recent years.

For all this wild ride to even start to look like it has a chance, the Colts have to do something that they have not accomplished since November 9th, which is to win a game. They haven’t won a game against a team with a winning record since October 19, against the Chargers. It would require the team to look like it has some “Want to”, which has not been the case since Luck retired. It would take a Herculean effort by a defense that has shown flashes, but has not really taken over a game against a good team.

This piece is similar to Spradley’s ‘The Colts could make things very interesting down the stretch”, but I am hoping that you might tell me how we get it done. I’d like to hear your responses to whether or not there is even a chance that the Colts are playoff bound and what the Colts have to do to make it happen. I don’t have the same expectations that I did at 7 – 1, but my glass is still half full.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...take-for-the-colts-to-advance-to-the-playoffs