Colts make final decision about Philip Rivers' future

Philip Rivers' comeback was one of the biggest storylines this NFL season. It was also a short-lived one.

With the Indianapolis Colts falling out of playoff contention, there's no reason to keep putting the 44-year-old in harm's way. That's why head coach Shane Steichen will ride with rookie Riley Leonard at quarterback in the regular-season finale, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

Colts to start Riley Leonard in Week 18

"The Colts are expected to start rookie Riley Leonard on Sunday against the Texans," Fowler wrote on X. "After three games with Philip Rivers and the Colts falling out of the playoffs, Indy will get a look at the rookie."

The Colts went 0-3 with Rivers at the helm, but it wasn't on the veteran gunslinger. Rivers was his usual self when he was out there, as it hadn't looked like five years since the last time he played a snap in the National Football League. He changed protection and called plays at the line of scrimmage, slung the football down the field and proved that he still had plenty left in the tank.

Even so, as much fun as he had and as much as this helped his legacy and Hall of Fame case, he talked about his desire to win and how frustrating it had been for him. Rivers completed 63.0 percent of his passes for 544 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. Still, in a three-game stretch that perfectly summed up his career, his defense and the rest of the team let him down when it mattered the most.