Philip Rivers Enthusiastic Amid Uncertainty in Colts’ QB Panorama

INDIANAPOLIS — Philip Rivers was watching the Indianapolis Colts‘ loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday and witnessed quarterback Daniel Jones‘ devastating Achilles harm.

“I noticed the harm reside,” stated Rivers, the eight-time Professional Bowl choice who rejoined the Colts this week, 5 years after his retirement. The transfer reunites him with shut buddy Shane Steichen, the Colts’ head coach.

“I really feel horrible for Daniel … And I’ve to confess, I assumed, ‘Effectively, I ponder if Shane will name.’”

Steichen did, in truth, name hours later. And he acquired a receptive response from Rivers, one of the vital adorned passers in NFL historical past.

After mulling over the concept together with his spouse and household and looking for the counsel of some trusted associates, Rivers known as the Colts on Tuesday morning with a remaining determination.

“I stated, ‘What do you suppose?’” Steichen stated Wednesday. “He stated, ‘Dadgummit, let’s freaking go.”

And with that classic Rivers-like reply, the following chapter of his storied profession started. The Colts are coping with accidents to Jones, who was positioned on injured reserve this week, and his backup, Riley Leonard, who has a proper knee difficulty however was a full participant in apply Wednesday.

That sparked the concept to name Rivers. However even with Leonard’s enhancing well being — he plans to apply Wednesday and stated he feels good — the Colts are significantly contemplating enjoying Rivers on Sunday if he exhibits himself worthy on this week’s practices.

“We’ll see how the week goes,” Steichen stated. “We’ll get to the tip of the week and make that call.” Requested to make clear additional and whether or not Rivers might play even when Leonard is wholesome on Sunday, Steichen was adamant.

“It relies on how he feels, too,” he stated of Rivers.

No matter occurs, Rivers has already introduced one thing to the desk: enthusiasm.

Per standard, he got here to work Wednesday with the identical stage of pleasure teammates and coaches grew to become accustomed to throughout his 17 earlier seasons.

He boiled his determination all the way down to nonetheless harboring a love for soccer that he cannot shake.

Soccer, he stated, “is a sport I like to play, a sport that I assumed I used to be carried out enjoying. Actually, I wasn’t actually hanging on to any hope of enjoying once more. I sort of thought that ship had sailed. However one thing about it excited me. And it is sort of a kind of offers; the door opens and you’ll both stroll by means of it and discover out if you are able to do it or run from it.”

Requested whether or not he can deal with the bodily rigors of the sport after being away for 5 years, Rivers conceded that will probably be considered one of his foremost challenges.

“I am attempting to choose it again up,” he stated. “I’ve nonetheless been very into it since I have been gone [coaching high school and training draft prospects]. However, yeah, it’s a bodily sport and it is quick and dudes are massive and quick, similar to they have been. So, shoot, you are taking it a day at a time.

“And I do really feel good. There’s one thing about being again on this constructing that feels proper and I am simply grateful.”

The thought of Rivers enjoying on Sunday might sound far-fetched on some ranges, however his intimate information of the Colts’ system does give him an enormous benefit over a quarterback with out the lengthy historical past he has with Steichen.

Steichen coached Rivers for six seasons as a Chargers assistant within the late 2010s, serving as interim offensive coordinator in 2019, Rivers’ remaining season. A lot of Steichen’s scheme and verbiage stays intact.

“That is an enormous deal to have the ability to see that decision sheet Tuesday morning and be capable of know what each play is,” Rivers stated.

As for the Corridor of Fame variable, Rivers stated it wasn’t prime of thoughts. He’s a semifinalist for induction in 2026, his first 12 months of eligibility. If he joins the Colts’ energetic roster, his five-year ready interval will reset and he might want to wait till 2031 to be eligible.

“I am not holding my breath on that, and I hadn’t been counting down the years and with all respect to the Corridor,” he stated. “If sooner or later I might be part of that group, it is going to be particular. No query about it. However the extension of that point, if that involves be, was not a consider my considering.”