2027 NFL Fifth-Year Option Tracker
NFL teams have until May 1 to officially pick up fifth-year options on 2023 first-rounders. The 2020 CBA revamped the option structure and made them fully guaranteed, rather than guaranteed for injury only. Meanwhile, fifth-year option salaries are now determined by a blend of performance- and usage-based benchmarks:
- Two-time Pro Bowlers (excluding alternates) will earn the same as their position’s franchise tag
- One-time Pro Bowlers will earn the equivalent of the transition tag
- Players who achieve any of the following will receive the average of the third-20th top salaries at their position:
- At least a 75% snap rate in two of their first three seasons
- A 75% snap average across all three seasons
- At least 50% in each of first three seasons
- Players who do not hit any of those benchmarks will receive the average of the third-25th top salaries at their position
PFR’s Offseason Outlook series examined each of these decisions in-depth, and weeks remain until this year’s deadline. In the meantime, we will use the space below to track all the 2027 option decisions from around the league:
- QB Bryce Young, Panthers ($25.9MM): To be exercised
- QB C.J. Stroud, Texans ($25.9MM): Exercised
- DE Will Anderson Jr., Texans ($21.51MM): Exercised
- QB Anthony Richardson, Colts ($22.48MM)
- CB Devon Witherspoon, Seahawks ($21.16MM): Exercised
- LT Paris Johnson Jr., Cardinals ($19.07MM)
- DE Tyree Wilson, Raiders ($14.48MM)
- RB Bijan Robinson, Falcons ($11.32MM)
- DT Jalen Carter, Eagles ($27.13MM)
- RT Darnell Wright, Bears ($19.07MM)
- G Peter Skoronski, Titans ($19.07MM)
- RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions ($14.29MM)
- DE Lukas Van Ness, Packers ($13.75MM)
- LT Broderick Jones, Steelers ($19.07MM): To be declined
- DE Will McDonald, Jets ($13.75MM): To be exercised
- CB Emmanuel Forbes, Rams ($12.63MM)
- CB Christian Gonzalez, Patriots ($18.12MM): Exercised
- LB Jack Campbell, Lions ($21.93MM)
- DL Calijah Kancey, Buccaneers ($14.48MM)
- WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks ($23.85MM): Exercised*
- WR Quentin Johnston, Chargers ($18MM)
- WR Zay Flowers, Ravens ($27.3MM): To be exercised
- WR Jordan Addison, Vikings ($18MM): To be exercised
- CB Deonte Banks, Giants ($12.63MM)
- TE Dalton Kincaid, Bills ($8.16MM): Exercised
- DT Mazi Smith, Jets ($13.93MM)
- RT Anton Harrison, Jaguars ($19.07MM): Exercised
- DE Myles Murphy, Bengals ($14.48MM)
- DT Bryan Bresee, Saints ($13.93MM): Exercised
- DE Nolan Smith, Eagles ($13.75MM)
- DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Chiefs ($13.75MM)
* = Seahawks gave Smith-Njigba four-year, $168.6MM extension
Chris Ballard: Anthony Richardson Could Stay In Indianapolis
Anthony Richardson‘s time in Indianapolis appeared to be over when he lost the starting quarterback battle to Daniel Jones last year. Missing virtually the entire season due to a freak injury furthered that belief, and receiving permission from the Colts to seek a trade seemed to cement it.
However, Richardson has drawn little interest on the trade market, and the Colts are not inclined to release him outright. General manager Chris Ballard said at league meetings this week (via ESPN’s Stephen Holder) that there is “definitely a scenario” in which the 23-year-old remains in Indianapolis.
The Colts may need a stopgap starter as Jones works his way back from last year’s Achilles tear. Their other options, at present, are both second-year players: sixth-rounder Riley Leonard and UDFA Seth Henigan.
Henigan signed with the Colts practice squad at the tail end of last season and extended his stay with a reserve/futures deal. It is hard to consider him a legitimate candidate to start if Jones is not ready for Week 1. Leonard had only two meaningful appearances as a rookie – first as relief for Jones in Week 14, then as the starter in Week 18 with Indianapolis eliminated from the postseason.
Despite his struggles thus far, Richardson might be the best option of that trio. If the Colts are not able to get a solid trade return for the former No. 4 pick, he can serve as an insurance policy for Jones as his recovery progresses.
Chiefs Considered Pursuing Anthony Richardson Prior To Justin Fields Trade; Latest On Colts QB
Once Gardner Minshew departed in free agency, the Chiefs found themselves in need of a new backup quarterback. They filled that vacancy with last week’s trade for Justin Fields.
The former Bear, Steeler and Jet will spend the offseason handling first-team reps while Patrick Mahomes continues his rehab process. Depending on how long that takes, Fields could find himself atop the depth chart early in the 2026 campaign. That may have also been true of another quarterback Kansas City showed interest in.
SportsBoom’s Jason La Canfora reports the Chiefs “considered” Anthony Richardson when weighing their QB options. The three-year Colts passer was granted permission to seek a trade earlier this offseason, something which came as no surprise. La Canfora’s latest piece echoes earlier ones indicating a limited market exists for Richardson, whose NFL career has certainly not gone according to plan so far.
The Packers have been mentioned as a potential landing spot previously, and a GM voiced an expectation (via La Canfora) Green Bay will be the team that brings in Richardson. The Packers had success with their Malik Willis buy-low transaction, sending the Titans only a seventh-round pick for a player who just landed $45MM guaranteed at signing (from the Dolphins). While the Packers will be in the market for another Jordan Love backup, some around the league pointed to the Jaguars as a potential Richardson destination.
Although the Minkah Fitzpatrick trade (Dolphins to Jets) showed teams can be open to trading starters within their divisions, it is quite rare for such moves to take place. The Joe Flacco (2025), Donovan McNabb (2010), Drew Bledsoe (2002) swaps — which involved supplanted starters or, in the Eagles’ case, soon-to-be replaced starters — show in-division QB deals can happen. But they are extraordinarily uncommon.
The Jaguars have Nick Mullens stationed as Trevor Lawrence‘s backup presently; the Liam Coen-James Gladstone regime brought in the journeyman reserve in March 2025. Richardson, 24 in May, would obviously bring a talent upgrade — albeit one that has struggled for most of his pro career. The Colts look to be through with the former No. 4 overall pick. They separated from the exec who initially championed Richardson — Morocco Brown — last year and have since transition-tagged and extended Daniel Jones. Riley Leonard is in place as Jones’ backup.
Richardson, who starred in Gainesville in 2022, is due a $5.39MM guarantee for 2026. The Jaguars have experience with this type of trade, having sent the Patriots a sixth-rounder for Mac Jones in 2024. Jones played out his rookie deal before signing with the 49ers (two years, $7MM) in 2025, becoming a high-end trade chip after a bounce-back season in San Francisco.
Becoming only the eighth quarterback to complete fewer than 50% of his passes on 200-plus attempts in a season, Richardson has been both erratic and unreliable as a pro. The one-year Florida starter missed missed 13 games with a shoulder injury in 2023 and dealt with multiple issues in 2024. Oblique trouble knocked Richardson out early in the ’24 season, and after a performance-based benching brought a brief midseason Flacco cameo, the aging QB was back at the controls to close the season due to Richardson experiencing foot and back trouble. The 2025 offseason then brought another shoulder issue for Richardson, who then suffered an orbital fracture in the Colts’ locker room.
The latter issue prompted the Colts to bring Philip Rivers out of retirement when Jones suffered an Achilles tear in December. Richardson returned to practice but was not activated from IR. Some teams are concerned about the quarterback’s vision in the wake of the eye injury, according to La Canfora.
Last year, execs pegged the fourth-rounder Lance drew from the Cowboys as realistic for Richardson. But if vision concerns are shared by a number of teams — for a player who has fallen out of favor in Indianapolis — it might be difficult for the Colts to fetch that price. For now, Richardson’s camp can keep shopping. A report of mutual interest between the QB and the Vikings will not produce a move, as Minnesota has since signed Kyler Murray and brought back Carson Wentz.
As for the Chiefs, they have seen Mahomes prove a quick healer in the past. ACL and LCL tears obviously represent the megastar’s most significant hurdle to date, and Fields represents low-cost insurance. The Chiefs are on the hook for just $3MM of Fields’ 2026 compensation. Mahomes does not have a clear timetable yet, but Week 1 is believed to be in play. Fields will follow the likes of Wentz, Chad Henne, Blaine Gabbert and Gardner Minshew as a veteran backup. Late-season starter Chris Oladokun remains on Kansas City’s roster as well.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Colts’ Anthony Richardson Drawing Interest; Packers Could Pursue QB
Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson requested a trade on Feb. 26, but a deal still has not come together almost three weeks later. While a trade is still not imminent, there are clubs interested in the 23-year-old, Stephen Holder of ESPN reports. The Packers are a team to watch, according to Holder.
As expected, Richardson lacks trade value in the wake of a rough three-year stretch to open his career. The 2023 fourth overall pick from Florida has struggled to perform and stay healthy in the NFL.
Injuries and demotions have held the athletically gifted Richardson to just 15 starts in Indianapolis. Richardson has thrown more interceptions (13) than touchdowns (11) en route to a disastrous 67.8 rating. He logged his most action in 2024, an 11-start year in which he recorded a horrid 47.7% completion rate on 264 attempts.
The Colts did not rule out Richardson winning their starting job last year, but he was unable to beat out free agent pickup Daniel Jones. Although Jones tore his Achilles in early December, he impressed enough to secure a two-year, $88MM extension this week. Jones is locked in as the Colts’ starter moving forward, making it unlikely Richardson will ever live up to his draft slot in Indianapolis.
Jones’ Achilles injury could have given Richardson a chance to step in and boost his stock, but he was also on the shelf then. Richardson suffered a season-ending orbital fracture in a freak accident with an exercise band in October. He has since been cleared to resume his football career.
With Jordan Love entrenched under center, the Packers are in better shape at QB than the Colts. That does not bode well for Richardson on paper, but one former backup has already revived his career in Green Bay in recent years. Back in August 2024, the Packers bought low on former Titans third-rounder Malik Willis, whom they acquired for a seventh-round selection. The move was a resounding success for both sides, as Willis emerged as one of the league’s most effective backups during his Packers tenure.
After Willis opened eyes over 11 appearances and three starts in Green Bay, the Dolphins inked him to a three-year, $67.5MM pact in free agency this week. Willis, 26, will earn a guaranteed $45MM in Miami, where he will enter next season as a starter. The 6-foot-4, 244-pound Richardson will hope for a similar fate if he follows Willis as a backup in Green Bay. The Packers’ current QB depth chart includes Love, Desmond Ridder and Kyle McCord.
Colts QB Anthony Richardson Requests Trade; Mutual Vikings Interest?
MARCH 2: Richardson does not have a strong trade market at this point, SportsBoom’s Jason LaCanfora reports to no surprise. NFL general managers and evaluators predicted Richardson’s value would be a Day 3 pick, with a fifth-rounder mentioned as the potential best-case scenario from the Colts’ perspective.
FEBRUARY 26: Signs continue to point to Anthony Richardson playing elsewhere in 2026. The embattled quarterback has requested a trade, James Boyd of The Athletic reports. 
To little surprise, ESPN’s Stephen Holder adds the Colts have given Richardson’s camp permission to seek a trade. The former No. 4 pick’s value will not be particularly high given how his NFL career has played out so far. Nevertheless, the lack of established QBs on the market this offseason could lead to at least some interest.
When speaking at the Combine yesterday, Colts GM Chris Ballard offered praise for Richardson. The 23-year-old has only made 15 starts and 17 appearances during the regular season so far. An orbital bone fracture kept Richardson sidelined through the end of the 2025 campaign, although Ballard said he has now been cleared for football activities. Boyd confirms Richardson has regained full vision in his right eye.
That will be a welcomed development for all involved, but it remains to be seen how many teams will be willing to proceed with a trade acquisition in this case. In December, a trio of NFL staffers pegged Richardson’s value at a fourth-round pick (the cost paid by the Cowboys when they acquired Trey Lance). A deal along those lines would obviously represent a massive disappointment for Indianapolis, but it would pave the way for Riley Leonard to handle backup duties in 2026. Of course, the Colts are in the midst of negotiations on a new Daniel Jones contract to ensure he remains atop the depth chart moving forward.
As for potential Richardson landing spots, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network points to Minnesota as one to watch. He reports there is a mutual interest between the Vikings and Richardson. Kevin O’Connell has established a track record of quarterback development during his time as Minnesota’s head coach, and taking on another reclamation project would make plenty of sense. Given J.J. McCarthy‘s struggles so far, the Vikings are expected to bring in competition under center this spring.
That could entail pursuing a more experienced option on the open market like Kirk Cousins or Derek Carr. Alternatively, the Vikings could look at Richardson as a buy-low candidate capable of winning the QB1 gig for 2026 while McCarthy develops. Richardson has one year remaining on his rookie contract and he is set to carry a cap charge of $10.82MM in 2026. A trade would essentially create an even split of that figure between cap savings and dead money for the Colts.
Colts GM Chris Ballard On Anthony Richardson, Michael Pittman Jr.
Injuries and disappointing play have defined Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson‘s career since he entered the NFL as the fourth overall pick in 2023. The former Florida Gator has played just 17 NFL games, including two brief appearances in 2025, and there is widespread skepticism that he will turn into a viable starter. However, Colts general manager Chris Ballard is not writing off the 23-year-old yet.
“I see a future (for Richardson in the NFL). Yeah, kinda like with any player, you don’t know what’s going to happen. Things change,” Ballard said Tuesday (via Nathan Brown of the Indianapolis Star). “But we like Anthony.”
Andrew Luck‘s shocking preseason retirement in 2019 left the Colts without a long-term plan under center. The Luck-less Colts deployed Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers, Matt Ryan and Carson Wentz as their starter for a year apiece from 2019-22. Tired of cycling through short-term stopgaps, Ballard bet big on the athletically gifted Richardson going from raw prospect to franchise quarterback.
The Richardson gamble has not worked out at all. Various injuries and demotions limited him to 15 starts in his first two seasons. During an 11-start 2024, the 6-foot-4, 244-pounder completed an astoundingly low 47.7% of 264 pass attempts. The Colts left the door open for Richardson to remain their QB1 last year, but he would have had to beat out free agent acquisition Daniel Jones. Not only did Jones win the summer competition, but the former Giants first-rounder went on to enjoy the best season of his career.
Jones’ resurgent season concluded with a ruptured Achilles in Week 14, which could have opened the door for a healthy Richardson down the stretch. Unfortunately for Richardson, he was on the shelf then after suffering an orbital fracture in a freak accident with an exercise band in October. Richardson finished 2025 on IR while continuing to deal with vision problems. He is now “cleared to play football,” Ballard announced.
With both Jones and Richardson unavailable last December, the Colts stunned in calling the 44-year-old Rivers out of retirement. Rivers, then a Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist, agreed to reset his Canton clock five years and come back in an effort to save the free-falling Colts. All three of Rivers’ starts were must-see TV, but the Colts didn’t win any of them. After going 8-5 in Jones’ starts, the Colts went 0-4 with Rivers and Riley Leonard to complete a second-half collapse.
The Colts will not run it back again with Rivers, who went back into retirement at the end of the season. Meanwhile, Jones is coming off a serious injury and without a contract for next 2026. However, the pending free agent is expected to re-sign with the Colts and continue as their starter. That would leave Richardson as a backup again, which may be the most likely outcome. Richardson would not bring back much in a trade, and releasing him wouldn’t save the Colts any money.
If Richardson is still on the Colts’ roster on May 1, it would be fair to expect them to decline his projected $23.50MM fifth-year option by then. That would set Richardson up for a trip to free agency in March 2027. He may have to wait until then to potentially salvage his career with another team.
Like Richardson, Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr. is facing an uncertain future this offseason. The six-year veteran logged 80 catches, 784 yards and seven touchdowns in 2025. Those aren’t bad numbers, but they may not be worth a bloated $29MM cap hit next season. While releasing Pittman before March 15 would save the Colts $24MM, parting with him is not a foregone conclusion.
“I think the world of Pitt and who he is as a player,” Ballard said (via Brown). “Any suggestion that he’s not going to be here (next season) is a pure hypothetical, in my mind.”
Despite Ballard’s affinity for Pittman, he will remain a player to monitor over the next couple of weeks. Getting Pittman’s money off the books may aid the Colts in their quest to keep Jones and pending free agent wideout Alec Pierce.
Colts To Start Riley Leonard In Week 18
DECEMBER 31: Steichen has now confirmed (via Holder) Leonard will get the start this week. Richardson, meanwhile, will not be activated. Henigan and Rivers will thus serve as backups to close out the season.
DECEMBER 30: When speaking after Sunday’s game, Philip Rivers reflected on his three-game return to NFL action. Since that point, signs have pointed to the Colts going in a different direction under center for Week 18. 
It continues to appear as though Rivers will not play in the season finale. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Stephen Holder report Riley Leonard is instead expected to get the nod this week. The sixth-round rookie has made four appearances so far this season. With the Colts out of playoff contention, he will now turn his attention to preparing for his first regular season start.
Daniel Jones‘ impressive debut Indianapolis campaign ended with an Achilles tear. With Anthony Richardson on injured reserve, head coach Shane Steichen reached out to Rivers and a deal allowing him to unretire was quickly worked out. At the age of 44, Rivers made three starts and totaled 544 passing yards and four touchdowns while throwing three interceptions. The Colts’ losing streak has extended to six games and the team now sits at 8-8 as a result, a dramatic turn of events for what was once a contender for the AFC’s No. 1 seed.
Richardson’s practice window is open, although as he continues to recover from an orbital bone fracture it is unclear if he will be activated from IR. The former No. 4 pick’s future is murky, as his time on the field for Indianapolis has left plenty to be desired. That, coupled with his injuries limits the value Richardson would generate in any potential trade. Leonard, meanwhile, profiles as a depth option for the foreseeable future as his rookie contract runs through 2028.
Yesterday, the Colts signed quarterback Seth Henigan to the practice squad. That move pointed further in the direction of Rivers sitting out Week 18 against the Texans and their vaunted defense. The QB1 role is set to go to Leonard instead, with Henigan representing an option to dress as a backup in the event Richardson is not activated.
Colts Open QB Anthony Richardson’s Practice Window
DECEMBER 24: Steichen said (via Chappell) this morning that Richardson will remain sidelined this week. The door is still open to an activation for Week 18, though.
DECEMBER 18: Anthony Richardson may not play again in 2025, but he will at least see time on the practice field late in the year. The Colts have designated Richardson for return from injured reserve, Shane Steichen announced on Thursday.
Steichen said (via Fox59’s Mike Chappell) the orbital bone fracture which left Richardson sidelined has now healed. However, the third-year quarterback has still not regained full vision. Richardson will not be available for Week 16 regardless of how things go at practice over the coming days, Steichen added.
Philip Rivers is set to remain the Colts’ starter after unretiring to become the team’s QB1 last week. The 44-year-old nearly helped lead Indianapolis to a win in Week 15, and he will look to keep the team’s postseason chances alive with a victory against the 49ers. Rookie Riley Leonard will once again handle backup duties in Week 16.
Richardson, meanwhile, will return to practice in the hopes of being activated late in the campaign. The former No. 4 pick has been limited to two games – and as many pass attempts – in 2025. Free agent Daniel Jones was enjoying a career year before suffering an Achilles tear. With Richardson still sidelined at the time, Rivers was auditioned and signed last week following discussions involving Steichen and a number of Colts veterans. It will be interesting to see if the team’s depth chart undergoes any further alterations down the stretch.
Richardson was handed the reins right away as a rookie, but he played in only four games before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery. Injuries and poor play remained an issue in 2024, prompting the Colts to add Jones in advance of a training camp competition. Retaining Jones for at least next season is, understandably, a team priority. Provided that happens, Richardson’s situation will be worth watching closely.
The 23-year-old could become a trade candidate if team and player opt for a fresh start. A Day 3 pick represents the expected value in a return for such a swap, an indication of how Richardson’s stock has plummeted during his brief NFL tenure. A small period of time to potentially offer a small boost to his value by returning to practice has now begun, though.
Shane Steichen Consulted Colts Veterans On Philip Rivers; Latest On Anthony Richardson’s Trade Value
Double-digit underdogs in Seattle, the Colts delivered a surprising effort in a close loss. Despite Philip Rivers being out of football since the 2020 season, he reemerged to submit a capable performance — all things considered — against one of the NFL’s best defenses.
The Colts opted for Rivers over rookie Riley Leonard against the Seahawks, and they will start him against the 49ers on Monday night. Rivers’ workout came as a shock to most, given his time away from the game, and the plan was radical enough Shane Steichen consulted some veterans on his roster before signing him to the practice squad, ESPN.com’s Stephen Holder notes.
Mo Alie-Cox was among those brought in during the seminal player meeting. The veteran tight end is among the 14 players still with the Colts from the 2020 season. That is an unusually high number of vets still with the team from 2020, but as we covered in an October Trade Rumors Front Office piece, the Colts have clung to this core in hopes a quarterback would finally arrive and justify the assembly of a talented roster. When it looked like Daniel Jones had become that player, he ran into two leg injuries — the second an Achilles tear. This ushered in the Rivers Hail Mary, one that has delayed the now-18-year veteran’s Hall of Fame clock by five years.
On offense, the Colts also have Quenton Nelson, Braden Smith, Jonathan Taylor and Michael Pittman Jr. from Rivers’ 2020 season in Indianapolis. Rivers ran the offense effectively in Seattle, going 18-for-27 for 120 yards and a touchdown pass — to Josh Downs — in the 18-16 loss. Rivers operated as an inspirational figure of sorts due to his stature in the game and long absence, and it will be interesting to see how the Colts proceed with Anthony Richardson down the stretch.
Steichen and Rivers communicated regularly about the Colts, as the two had worked together for many years with the Chargers. The 44-year-old’s knowledge of Steichen’s system played the lead role in him being summoned for this unlikely opportunity. Considering Richardson’s status as a demoted player who has drawn maturity concerns, it would be interesting to see Rivers benched as the season wanes. Also worth considering is Richardson’s future in Indianapolis.
It is not yet known if the Colts will start Richardson’s IR-return clock this week, but it is in play after a broken orbital bone sidelined the struggling prospect in October. Indianapolis does not seem to have Richardson in its long-term plans any longer, seeing as a spree of Jones extension rumors emerged before (and after) his injury. Jones being a re-up target even after his Achilles tear is interesting when considering how poorly his Giants re-signing went, but the Colts trading two first-rounders for Sauce Gardner leaves them with limited options. As the team’s Jones plan remains, it would appear Richardson is set to head elsewhere in 2026.
The Colts could have the option of showcasing Richardson for a potential trade late this season or bubble-wrapping a player who brought tremendous accuracy concerns during his first two seasons. If/when Richardson is put on the market, evaluators point to the Colts not being able to obtain more than a Day 3 pick.
Three NFL staffers tabbed the former No. 4 overall draftee as being worth a fourth-round pick, per Yahoo.com’s Charles Robinson, as they liken this situation to the 49ers’ Trey Lance decision. The overdrafted Lance fetched a fourth from the Cowboys in 2023.
Indianapolis has fallen to 8-6; a loss to the favored 49ers would further dim playoff hopes that once appeared bright. The Colts turning to Leonard — who is signed through 2027 — may make more sense than pivoting to Richardson. But the talented but erratic QB remains in the picture for the time being. It will be interesting to see if Rivers stays in the QB1 role in Week 17.
Colts To Start QB Philip Rivers In Week 16; Latest On Anthony Richardson
Philip Rivers and the Colts nearly managed an upset win yesterday. The recently unretired passer will receive at least one more look atop the depth chart.
To little surprise, head coach Shane Steichen confirmed on Monday that Rivers will start in Week 16 against the 49ers. The 44-year-old returned to the NFL five years after his retirement to fill in for Daniel Jones. With Jones recovering from a torn Achilles and rookie Riley Leonard dealing with a PCL sprain, Rivers could finish the year in the QB1 spot. Anthony Richardson could be nearing a return, however.
At the time Rivers signed with the Colts, Richardson had yet to be cleared for football activities. That has now changed, though, as Mike Chappell of Fox59 reports. The former No. 4 pick has been on injured reserve since suffering an orbital bone fracture during warmups in October. The latest update on this situation indicated it was still unclear whether or not a return to action would take place by the end of the season.
On that note, Steichen said (via Joel A Erickson of the Indy Star) it is yet to be determined if Richardson’s practice window will open this week. In the event that were to take place, his 21-day activation period would begin. A return to the fold in Richardson’s case would at least provide Indianapolis with a depth option under center. It could also allow the Florida product – whose future is very much in doubt – to provide a slight boost to his value late in the campaign.
For now, the Colts’ focus will be aimed at preparing Rivers for another start. Taking the reins one week after being contacted by Steichen and Co., he completed 18 of 27 pass attempts for 120 yards against the Seahawks. Indianapolis connected on a go-ahead field goal late in the fourth quarter, but Seattle managed to match it moments later. Rivers then threw an interception on the Colts’ final possession, ending the team’s chances of winning.
Indianapolis now sits at 8-6 as a result. With the Jaguars and Texans both winning yesterday, top spot in the AFC South is increasingly getting out of reach. The Chargers and Bills also won in Week 15, meaning a wild-card berth will challenging to attain as well. In any case, Rivers will look to build off his performance from yesterday as the Colts contemplate their options under center.