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INDIANAPOLIS — The Colts signed undrafted rookie quarterback Seth Henigan to the practice squad on Monday, the kind of move that would allow 44-year-old Philip Rivers to sit out Sunday’s season finale in Houston.
Until the Colts signed Henigan to the practice squad — making him eligible to be elevated to the active roster against the Texans — Indianapolis had only two quarterbacks eligible to be active on game day: Rivers and rookie quarterback Riley Leonard.
Former starter Anthony Richardson has practiced the last two weeks, but he hasn’t been activated off injured reserve yet as he continues to deal with visual limitations stemming from the accident that fractured his orbital socket and forced him to undergo surgery in October. It is unclear if Richardson has a chance to play in the season finale.
Despite Saturday’s playoff elimination, Rivers started Sunday’s loss to Jacksonville because the 44-year-old had taken almost all of the snaps during the week in preparation to start, and the Colts didn’t officially find out they’d been eliminated until Saturday evening.
With an entire week to prepare, the Colts could turn to Leonard, the sixth-round rookie the team hopes can develop into a No. 2 quarterback.
Indianapolis head coach Shane Steichen said Sunday that he’d make that official decision on Tuesday.
Steichen, a longtime friend of Rivers dating back to their days together with the Chargers, thanked the 44-year-old quarterback on Sunday for his unique willingness to answer the call from a Colts team that lost starter Daniel Jones to a torn Achilles tendon and hasn’t had Richardson for months.
“I thought it was pretty good,” Steichen said. “Him coming out one last time and fighting like crazy – it was impressive to see, and him being in the locker room with the guys, his fight, his character, his passion for the game – inspirational to a lot of people, not just our players, but people around the world watching football.”
Rivers, for his part, left the decision-making on the final game of the season up to the Colts.
“I'm going to be on board and supportive of whatever the organization, Shane and whoever – however that decision is going to come to be,” Rivers said. “I'm sure I'll have some conversations. It won't just be a blindside Tuesday conversation from him, and I'm going to be on board to do what's best for the guys.”
By signing Henigan to the practice squad, a Colts team that carried only two active quarterbacks against the 49ers and the Jaguars has another passer available to play behind Leonard on Sunday.
Henigan, an undrafted free agent out of Memphis, spent the offseason and the first four weeks of his rookie year on Jacksonville’s roster, first in training camp and then as part of the practice squad.
Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts sign QB Seth Henigan to practice squad, what it means for Rivers, Leonard
Continue reading...
Until the Colts signed Henigan to the practice squad — making him eligible to be elevated to the active roster against the Texans — Indianapolis had only two quarterbacks eligible to be active on game day: Rivers and rookie quarterback Riley Leonard.
Former starter Anthony Richardson has practiced the last two weeks, but he hasn’t been activated off injured reserve yet as he continues to deal with visual limitations stemming from the accident that fractured his orbital socket and forced him to undergo surgery in October. It is unclear if Richardson has a chance to play in the season finale.
Despite Saturday’s playoff elimination, Rivers started Sunday’s loss to Jacksonville because the 44-year-old had taken almost all of the snaps during the week in preparation to start, and the Colts didn’t officially find out they’d been eliminated until Saturday evening.
With an entire week to prepare, the Colts could turn to Leonard, the sixth-round rookie the team hopes can develop into a No. 2 quarterback.
Indianapolis head coach Shane Steichen said Sunday that he’d make that official decision on Tuesday.
Steichen, a longtime friend of Rivers dating back to their days together with the Chargers, thanked the 44-year-old quarterback on Sunday for his unique willingness to answer the call from a Colts team that lost starter Daniel Jones to a torn Achilles tendon and hasn’t had Richardson for months.
“I thought it was pretty good,” Steichen said. “Him coming out one last time and fighting like crazy – it was impressive to see, and him being in the locker room with the guys, his fight, his character, his passion for the game – inspirational to a lot of people, not just our players, but people around the world watching football.”
Rivers, for his part, left the decision-making on the final game of the season up to the Colts.
“I'm going to be on board and supportive of whatever the organization, Shane and whoever – however that decision is going to come to be,” Rivers said. “I'm sure I'll have some conversations. It won't just be a blindside Tuesday conversation from him, and I'm going to be on board to do what's best for the guys.”
By signing Henigan to the practice squad, a Colts team that carried only two active quarterbacks against the 49ers and the Jaguars has another passer available to play behind Leonard on Sunday.
Henigan, an undrafted free agent out of Memphis, spent the offseason and the first four weeks of his rookie year on Jacksonville’s roster, first in training camp and then as part of the practice squad.
Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts sign QB Seth Henigan to practice squad, what it means for Rivers, Leonard
Continue reading...
