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ESPN- Stephen joined ESPN in 2022, covering the Indianapolis Colts and NFL at large. Stephen finished first place in column writing in the 2015 Indiana Associated Press Media Editors competition, and he is a previous top-10 winner in explanatory journalism in the Associated Press Sports Editors national contest. He has chronicled the NFL since 2005, covering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2005-2013 and the Colts since 2013. He has previously worked for the Miami Herald, Tampa Bay Times, Indianapolis Star and The Athletic.
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senior NFL national reporter- Jeremy Fowler is a senior national NFL writer for ESPN, covering the entire league including breaking news. Jeremy also contributes to SportsCenter both as a studio analyst and a sideline reporter covering for NFL games. He is an Orlando, Florida native who joined ESPN in 2014 after covering college football for CBSSports.com.
INDIANAPOLIS -- Philip Rivers' second act has come to an end.
The Indianapolis Colts are turning to rookie Riley Leonard as their starting quarterback for Sunday's season finale at the Houston Texans, coach Shane Steichen told reporters Wednesday, ending veteran Rivers' run after coming out of a five-year retirement.
The Colts are intending for Seth Henigan, who was signed to their practice squad Monday, to back up Leonard with Rivers serving as the emergency third quarterback. Anthony Richardson Sr. is set to remain on injured reserve to close the season.
Rivers, the longtime NFL great who retired after a single season with the Colts in 2020, rejoined the team earlier this month after the season-ending injury to starter Daniel Jones. With 2023 first-round pick Richardson also on injured reserve from a previous injury, the Colts were left with few options. Steichen, one of Rivers' closest friends, coaxed Rivers out of retirement because of his intimate knowledge of the offense and leadership capacity.
But with the Colts eliminated from playoff contention last weekend, the team had to weigh whether it made sense to continue starting the 44-year-old Rivers who is not in their future plans.
Rivers said after Sunday's loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars that he would accept any decision the team made. The Colts made the surprising move to sign Rivers in a desperate attempt to make the postseason. They were in the thick of the AFC playoff race when Jones was injured and, knowing they would need consistent quarterback play to stay there, took a flier on Rivers.
Indianapolis ended up 0-3 with Rivers under center, but he certainly gave their offense a fighting chance. It was no masterpiece, but Rivers was competent, completing 63% of his pass attempts (58-of-92) for 544 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions.
Philips had been a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2026 before unretiring. Now he won't be eligible for consideration again until 2031.
Leonard, a sixth-round pick from Notre Dame, will make his first career start against the Texans' fearsome defense.
Richardson, who is recovering from an orbital fracture and injury to his right eye, returned to practice in recent weeks but will finish the season attempting two passes while serving as Jones' backup.