Even if the Colts' season finale is meaningless from a postseason perspective, the snaps that will make up Sunday's Week 18 game against the Houston Texans will be meaningful for whoever is on the field.
Quarterback Riley Leonard will make his first career start, but he may not be the only Colts youngster to play a chunk of snaps this weekend.
"There'll be some guys that we've been talking about, and we'll continue to talk about throughout the week," head coach Shane Steichen said. "But you'll probably see some guys out there."
Those snaps still have to be earned, certainly. But, for instance, rookie running back D.J. Giddens hasn't taken a carry since Week 5, while linebacker Jaylon Carlies has only played in two games (and played two defensive snaps) since being activated from injured reserve on Dec. 6.
For players who've seen their snaps increase prior to Week 18 – like rookie tackle Jalen Travis, rookie cornerback Johnathan Edwards and third-year defensive tackle Adetomiwa Adebawore – Sunday's game will be a final opportunity to continue growing ahead of the 2026 season. We'll also keep an eye on the status of rookie defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau, who missed Week 17 with an oblique injury.
Thursday's practice report:
