Daniel Jones’ season with the Indianapolis Colts ended early after he tore his Achilles tendon. ran shows the options you have for the franchise.
By Kai Esser
After a great start to the season, the Indianapolis Colts are facing an absolute debacle.
After eight wins from the first ten games this season, the Colts lost all of their last three games. But not only that, to make matters worse, quarterback Daniel Jones also tore his Achilles tendon.
This not only means his season has ended prematurely. The injury is so serious that it is impossible to predict whether he will be fit again for the start of the 2026 season.
Backup Riley Leonard took over as a rookie in Week 14 against the Jacksonville Jaguars and seemed overwhelmed at times, but no one can blame him for that.
With a view to the playoffs, the Colts could add more personnel. ran shows which options are possible.
Option 1: Philip Rivers
Will Philip Rivers actually make a spectacular comeback? The Colts brought Rivers, who retired in 2021, out of retirement after a workout and signed him to the practice squad.
The 44-year-old did not play a game after the 2020 season and is even a semifinalist in this year’s Hall of Fame class.
It remains to be seen how fit Rivers is and how accurate he can still be.
Option 2: Brett Rypien
The Colts’ most obvious option might be Brett Rypien. The quarterback is currently on the practice squad and could be moved to the active roster without much effort or bureaucracy.
The 29-year-old even has eleven games of NFL experience. Although there are four touchdowns and nine interceptions, the Colts can’t be too picky since the trade window has been closed for weeks and no one would voluntarily give up their potent backup.
VIDEO: Horror injury for Daniel Jones
Option 3: Joe Flacco
After Rivers’ signing, all other options are currently off the table. In the case of Flacco, the Bengals would first have to agree to release him anyway, then the 41-year-old should not be signed by the waiver wire.
That alone seems unlikely. Especially since the Bengals traded away a fifth-round pick for his services.
Option 4: Sam Ehlinger
Another former Colts playmaker. Sam Ehlinger was selected 218th in the 2021 draft and spent three years in Indianapolis before most recently joining the Denver Broncos.
Ehlinger is only on the practice squad there. The seven-time NFL player (three touchdowns, three interceptions) could be signed relatively easily without anyone having to intervene. If Rivers passes training, that’s probably not an option.
Option 5: Taylor Heinicke
Free agent Taylor Heinicke is known for not always being accurate, but always playing with heart. He played one more playoff game against Tom Brady as a starter in 2020.
His career statistics also look solid: 42 games, 39 touchdowns and 29 interceptions are not bad.
The 32-year-old signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Chargers in March, but was released in August. For now, however, a commitment is probably off the table.
VIDEO: On the trail of AB? Nacua ignores film ban
Option 6: Ryan Tannehill
A resonant, but very unlikely, name is Ryan Tannehill.
The former Tennessee Titans playmaker only declared his career over in November. “I think the ship has come into port.”
However: In the NFL, as is well known, decisions can quickly turn in the other direction. Tannehill has a positive record (80-71) in 151 starts and was in the AFC Championship Game with the Titans in 2019, then under the leadership of current Patriots coach Mike Vrabel. With Rivers’ return, this scenario should be over.
