Philip Rivers Set to Lead Colts In opposition to Seahawks

Philip Rivers‘ comeback story stays on schedule.

The newly unretired quarterback is anticipated to start out for the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday towards the Seattle Seahawks, a supply confirmed to ESPN. The Colts elevated him from the follow squad to the 53-man energetic roster Saturday, making him eligible to play.

Rivers, who retired after the 2020 season and final performed in a playoff sport in January 2021, got here out of retirement this week to assist the Colts handle their quarterback scenario after Daniel Jones‘ season-ending Achilles harm.

Rivers, 44, was initially signed to the follow squad, which means he wanted to be added to the official roster earlier than enjoying.

His addition to the roster means Rivers will go from being a semifinalist for this 12 months’s Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame class to not being eligible once more till 2031.

On Friday, Colts coach Shane Steichen was noncommittal on a starter, however he made it clear that issues had been trending towards Rivers beginning in his first sport in additional than 1,800 days towards the gifted Seattle protection.

“I am going to 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 follow the best way he did this week was fairly spectacular to look at.”

Steichen mentioned Friday that he deliberate on assembly with Rivers for a last check-in after follow to make sure that his throwing arm and legs dealt with the sudden return nicely.

The Colts did their greatest to simulate sport conditions in follow, however that goes solely to this point.

“You attempt to do it in follow as greatest you’ll be able to,” Steichen mentioned. “Clearly, the sport is somewhat completely different. The sport pace will probably be somewhat 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’ return and the power it has produced of their locker room with some lifelike expectations.

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

The NFL Community was first to report that Rivers is anticipated to start out Sunday.