Quarterback Brett Rypien, currently on the Indianapolis Colts practice squad since mid-October 2025, has yet to see game action this season. At 29 years old, he is the nephew of former Colts star Mark Rypien, and has been making his way through the NFL since going undrafted out of Boise State in 2019. Rypien’s journey has taken him to seven different teams before landing with the Colts.
With the Colts facing a dire situation at quarterback — injuries sidelining both Daniel Jones and Riley Leonard — the team has explored various options, even reaching out to former Colt Philip Rivers, who is now 44 and a grandfather.
Despite being a backup for most of his career, Rypien’s time in the NFL includes appearances in 11 games, starting in four of them. Over his career, he has completed 58.3% of his passes for a total of 950 yards, amassing four touchdowns but also nine interceptions. His most recent game participation was on September 21, 2025, when he suited up for the Cincinnati Bengals in a heavy 48-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, though he did not attempt any passes in that outing.
Rypien’s financial situation includes a one-year contract worth $1.2 million with the Bengals at the beginning of the 2025 season. However, he has seen a flurry of transactions this year: the Bengals released him on October 7, after initially signing him to their active roster from the practice squad on September 16. Just before joining the Bengals, he was on their practice squad after being released by the Vikings.
As the Colts look to fill gaps in their quarterback lineup for the remaining four games of the regular season, Rypien’s experience and familial connection to the franchise might give him a fighting chance to finally take the field.
