Rivers Set to Rejoin Colts for Seahawks Showdown

The Philip Rivers comeback story stays on schedule.

The Indianapolis Colts will elevate the newly unretired quarterback from the apply squad to the 53-man energetic roster Saturday, making him formally eligible to play Sunday towards the Seattle Seahawks, sources instructed ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Rivers, who retired after the 2020 season and final performed in a playoff recreation in January 2021, got here out of retirement this week to assist the Colts tackle their quarterback state of affairs within the wake of Daniel Jones’ season-ending Achilles damage.

Rivers, 44, was initially signed to the apply squad. which means he was required to be added to the official roster earlier than with the ability to play.

By signing to the energetic roster, Rivers will go from being a semifinalist for this 12 months’s Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame to not being eligible once more till 2031.

Coach Shane Steichen on Friday was noncommittal on a starter, however he made it clear issues had been trending towards Rivers beginning towards the proficient Seattle protection in his first recreation in additional than 1,800 days.

“I will say it was fairly good,” Steichen mentioned of Rivers’ practices this week. “A man that hasn’t been on the market in 5 years, to go and apply the way in which he did this week was fairly spectacular to look at.”

Steichen mentioned Friday he deliberate on assembly with Rivers for a closing check-in after apply, the purpose being to make sure that his throwing arm and his legs dealt with the sudden return properly.

All proof suggests Rivers responded properly, and he’s anticipated to start out in Seattle. However the Colts are in uncharted territory right here, with a middle-aged quarterback who hasn’t performed the sport competitively in 5 seasons. The Colts did their greatest to simulate recreation conditions in apply, however that solely goes thus far.

“You attempt to do it in apply as greatest you’ll be able to,” Steichen mentioned. “Clearly, the sport is just a little completely different. The sport velocity might be just a little completely different for him, in order that’ll be an acclimation interval for him if he is on the market.”

The Colts have tried to stability the thrill created by Rivers’ surprising return and the power it has produced of their locker room with some frequent sense. Lifelike expectations are necessary, Steichen mentioned.

“He isn’t right here to save lots of the season,” Steichen mentioned. “He is right here to be an excellent chief, an excellent teammate, go on the market, function the offense, get us out and in of the fitting performs. And that is the method, and that is the way in which he is taken it, flowing with it sooner or later at a time.”