Sportsnaut
Right now, the Indianapolis Colts are trying to see how much gas 44-year-old Philip Rivers has left in the tank. Of course, with Anthony Richardson still recovering from an injury suffered in the preseason and sixth-round rookie Riley Leonard being the only healthy quarterback on the roster, Rivers may be their best shot.
Yet, while the grandpa may be able to finish out the final three games of the season, barring a hugely successful playoff run, there’s no way Rivers returns for another chance in 2026. Daniel Jones isn’t under contract for 2026, and he’s also recovering from an Achilles tear. That means he likely won’t be available in Week 1 next season, no matter which team he signs with.
Thus, unless Richardson can get healthy and show he’s worth trusting as a starter, the Colts will have to make other plans for next season. They may even include another Pro Bowl QB.
Related: 2025 NFL QB Rankings: Where’s Philip Rivers?
Recently, ESPN’s Dan Graziano suggested the Colts could try trading for Mac Jones from the San Francisco 49ers this offseason. Jones, who filled in for Brock Purdy for eight starts, leading the 49ers to a 5-3 record this season, will be under contract in 2026, but at a bargain rate of just $2.8 million.
After posting new career-highs in completion rate, touchdown rate, interception rate, and passing yards per game, Jones could be in high demand this offseason. Plus, the one-time Pro Bowler is still just 27 years old, giving him potentially a long shelf life as his next team’s starting QB.
The bigger question may be whether the 49ers are even willing to trade Jones after he was such a big part of helping them get back on track to reach the postseason. Yet, they could do Jones a favor by allowing him to go chase a potential starting gig elsewhere, and trading him to the AFC could present the perfect opportunity.
Related: 7 Indianapolis Colts QB Solutions for 2026
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