The Indianapolis Colts are staring down a quarterback crisis at the worst possible time, and the timing couldn’t be more brutal. With the playoffs still within reach, the Colts may have to lean on journeyman Brett Rypien under center when they head to Seattle in Week 15 - a scenario few could’ve predicted just a few weeks ago.
Let’s rewind for a second. Daniel Jones, who had been enjoying something of a career revival in Indy, saw his season come to a heartbreaking end with a torn Achilles.
That came on the heels of a fractured fibula that had already slowed his momentum. Then, as if things couldn’t get worse, backup Riley Leonard suffered a knee injury, leaving his status for Sunday up in the air.
So where does that leave the Colts? Right now, the only fully healthy quarterback on the active roster is Brett Rypien - a name that might sound familiar to Bengals fans.
From Cincinnati to Indy: Rypien’s Winding Road
Rypien's NFL journey has been anything but conventional. Since entering the league in 2019 as an undrafted free agent out of Boise State, he’s bounced around the league like a pinball - the Colts are his eighth team. In that time, he’s made just four starts across 11 appearances, posting a 2-2 record with four touchdowns and nine interceptions.
He’s not the kind of quarterback who’s going to wow you with arm strength or athleticism, but he’s been around long enough to know how to manage a game. That said, if he does get the nod in Seattle, it’s going to be one of the toughest assignments of his career.
Seattle’s Defense Awaits
Let’s be clear: facing the Seahawks in Seattle is no joke, especially this season. Mike Macdonald’s defense is the No. 1-ranked unit in the league, and they’ve made a habit of feasting on inexperienced or overmatched quarterbacks. Just ask Max Brosmer, the Vikings’ rookie who threw four picks in a nightmare performance at Lumen Field not long ago.
That’s the kind of scenario the Colts are trying to avoid with Leonard. The rookie sixth-round pick has shown flashes, particularly with his mobility and ability to extend plays.
But asking him to gut it out on a bad knee, in one of the NFL’s loudest stadiums, against the league’s top defense? That’s a recipe for disaster - and potentially a setback in his development.
Which brings us back to Rypien.
The Colts’ Best (and Only?) Option
Rypien isn’t a long-term solution, but he might be the best short-term option Indy has. He’s had time to learn Shane Steichen’s system since signing to the practice squad earlier this year, and while he doesn’t bring the dynamic skill set of Jones or Leonard, he can at least operate the offense without needing to improvise on every snap.
His mobility is functional, not flashy - think more “escape the pocket” than “take off for 20 yards” - and his career passer rating of 59.9 tells you exactly how much upside to expect. But in a hostile environment like Seattle, experience matters. And right now, Rypien has more of it than anyone else in the Colts’ quarterback room.
What’s at Stake
The Colts are still very much alive in the playoff race, but these next two games could define their season. After Seattle, they return home to face the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football - another top-tier defense with Super Bowl aspirations.
If Leonard can’t go, Rypien will likely be asked to weather both storms. And that’s no small task. This is a pressure-cooker situation: a veteran backup, thrust into the spotlight, with postseason implications hanging in the balance.
Unless the Colts pull a rabbit out of the hat - and as of now, there’s no deal in place with 44-year-old Philip Rivers, despite the rumors - Brett Rypien is about to get his shot.
And it’s coming in the most unforgiving of circumstances.