QB Philip Rivers Comes Out of Retirement to Be part of Colts

INDIANAPOLIS — Philip Rivers is including yet one more chapter to his NFL story.

The longtime star quarterback, who retired after the 2020 season — his seventeenth within the NFL — is rejoining the Indianapolis Colts on their follow squad, sources advised ESPN, amid an damage disaster that has left them with three sidelined quarterbacks.

Rivers labored out for the Colts on Monday night. The information comes at some point after Rivers’ forty fourth birthday, immediately making him the oldest lively participant within the NFL.

That positions him to be an choice to play rather than third-string quarterback Riley Leonard, who sustained a knee damage whereas relieving Daniel Jones in Sunday’s loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Jones sustained a proper Achilles tear and can bear season-ending surgical procedure this week. Anthony Richardson Sr., who started the season because the No. 2 quarterback, has been on injured reserve since October after struggling a critical facial fracture in an tools failure involving stretching bands.

It stays to be seen what Rivers’ quick position can be. Leonard’s standing for the Colts’ subsequent recreation, on the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, continues to be unclear. The crew is hoping for extra readability Wednesday, in response to a supply.

On Monday, coach Shane Steichen left the door open. When requested whether or not Leonard would play Sunday, he mentioned, “That is the hope. We’ll see the way it goes.” A supply advised ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday evening that Leonard had a strained knee ligament and was thought of week-to-week.

If Leonard cannot play, Rivers would possibly enter the image. Nonetheless remembered fondly at Colts headquarters following his one season with Indianapolis in 2020, Rivers can be reunited along with his shut pal Steichen. The 2 beforehand spent six seasons collectively within the Chargers group whereas Steichen was an assistant coach and Rivers was the crew’s longtime quarterback.

They continue to be in common contact and sometimes focus on soccer issues on a weekly foundation. Steichen’s relationship with Rivers helped this association come collectively, in response to sources.

In accordance with sources, Rivers’ exercise was spectacular. He threw the ball effectively however wants to enhance his conditioning, in response to a supply. How that impacts his capacity to play this week, if obligatory, is unclear.

Rivers is at the moment a semifinalist for the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame’s Class of 2026. Per the Corridor of Fame, Rivers signing to the Colts’ follow squad has no impact on his eligibility. Nevertheless, if he indicators to the Colts’ lively roster, his eligibility clock would reset, whether or not or not he takes a snap in a recreation, and he would not be eligible once more till 2031.

Rivers’ 2020 Colts efficiency was spectacular. The Colts completed 11-5 with Rivers beneath heart, making the playoffs as an AFC wild card. They misplaced to the Buffalo Payments in a first-round recreation and, a number of weeks later, Rivers determined to stroll away from the NFL.

No Colts crew since that 2020 squad has averaged extra passing yards than the 253.3 per recreation produced with Rivers on the controls. Indianapolis received 4 of its final 5 video games that season to clinch a playoff spot. And Rivers delivered all through the season, finishing 68% of his move makes an attempt and throwing 24 landing passes.

The mere exploration of Rivers as a risk speaks to the dearth of choices for Indianapolis. The Colts even have journeyman Brett Rypien on their follow squad, however he has but to be added to the lively roster this season.

If Rivers begins a recreation for the Colts this season, he would turn out to be the fifth quarterback in NFL historical past to start out a recreation at age 44 or older, becoming a member of Tom Brady, Vinny Testaverde, Steve DeBerg and Warren Moon, in response to ESPN Analysis.

The Colts stay in playoff competition regardless of shedding 4 of their previous 5 video games. The Colts are one recreation again within the AFC wild-card race, however they’ve a tough remaining slate of video games: on the Seahawks, dwelling for the San Francisco 49ers and Jaguars, and on the Houston Texans.