Philip Rivers anticipates limited success in evading oncoming defenders.
Nevertheless, upon receiving contact from Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard on Sunday evening, the 44-year-old signal-caller understood that their proposition primarily sought a different skill set.
A field general familiar with the strategic schemes? Rivers previously worked with Steichen for nine seasons while with the Chargers, subsequently spending his tenth and ultimate NFL year alongside Ballard and the Colts in 2020. Possessing knowledge of the team’s composition? Rivers mentioned during his public reappearance on Wednesday that fourteen athletes from his previous tenure remain on the roster, among them key offensive figures such as running back Jonathan Taylor, wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., and tight end Mo Alie-Cox.
Consequently, when Steichen and Ballard posed the question, “What are your thoughts?” Rivers found himself intrigued. They advised him to ponder the choice overnight, and by Monday morning, he felt even more resolved.
A journey to Indianapolis followed by a passing drill solidified the agreement. Steichen reported that by Tuesday, from his lodging, Rivers communicated to the Colts’ leadership: “Let’s absolutely do this.” On Wednesday morning, the Colts publicly confirmed Rivers’ addition to their practice squad.
“My purpose is not to salvage the season or act as a savior,” Rivers stated. “Our focus must be on executing a powerful ground game, playing strong defense, and addressing all necessary components. Therefore, if the situation dictates my presence on the field, I am not attempting to single-handedly rescue the team. I am aware of my constraints. And as circumstances unfold, my performance will improve, should we proceed in that direction.
“I have never shied away from confrontation. Some might suggest, ‘Opponents will be aware of your static positioning.’ My response is, ‘That fact was well-established for over a decade and a half.’”
The Colts’ choice to reactivate Rivers after half a decade away from professional football is unconventional. However, their current challenge also proved to be quite extraordinary.
First-string quarterback Daniel Jones, instrumental in the Colts’ unexpected 8-2 season opening, transitioned from struggling performance attributed to a fractured left fibula to placement on injured reserve due to a ruptured right Achilles tendon. The signal-caller Jones surpassed during the preseason, Anthony Richardson Sr., the fourth overall selection in the 2023 draft, remains medically uncleared following an orbital bone fracture suffered in an unusual pre-game incident in October. Rookie quarterback Riley Leonard, chosen in the sixth round, took over for Jones last Sunday — but subsequently realized, during travel on Sunday and Monday, that he had injured his knee.
Despite his ability to participate in practice on Wednesday, his readiness for Sunday’s contest against the 10-3 Seattle Seahawks has not been confirmed.
Furthermore, the Colts seem to lack significant trust in the veteran backup Brett Rypien, who is also on their roster.
Therefore, what course of action does a franchise with three sidelined quarterbacks, whose postseason prospects are diminishing but still attainable, pursue?
It’s important to recall that this is the identical organization that recruited ex-offensive lineman Jeff Saturday from his broadcasting role at ESPN to assume the position of interim head coach in 2022, following the dismissal of Frank Reich.
Veteran members of the Colts were not taken aback.
“My experience has taught me to anticipate unforeseen events,” remarked linebacker Zaire Franklin, a Colt for eight seasons. “Extraordinary situations necessitate extraordinary remedies. I am grateful that we have acquired an individual who understands the scheme, is familiar with the facility, recognizes the personnel, and can immediately contribute.”
“This is indeed an astonishing scenario.”
Philip Rivers’ concluding appearance with the Colts occurred during a wild-card playoff match in 2021 against the Bills.
(Timothy T Ludwig via Getty Images)
Rivers and Leonard: A 22-Year Age Gap, Yet Colts’ Quarterback Dynamics Are Less Unexpected Than Perceived
Leonard would be justified in harboring reservations regarding the Colts’ introduction of a 44-year-old individual, inactive for half a decade, to contend for the starting position this Sunday.
Assuming the role from Jones on Sunday, Leonard successfully connected on 62.1% (18 out of 29) of his throws, accumulating 145 yards and conceding one interception. He also carried the ball twice for a total of 5 yards, scoring a touchdown.
Leonard, a late-round draft selection with a compromised knee, stated neutrally regarding the acquisition that he is “gaining familiarity with this profession and refrains from expressing an opinion.” However, objectively, it prompts the inquiry: What effectiveness can a 44-year-old exhibit against an aggressive Seahawks defensive line, including prominent players such as Leonard Williams and DeMarcus Lawrence? Is this individual genuinely committed to undertaking this?
As it happens, Leonard possesses insights that suggest otherwise: The 23-year-old trained with the 44-year-old, who was then a high school coach, during the spring in Fairhope, their mutual Alabama hometown.
Thus, Leonard is aware of Rivers’ comprehension of the tactical framework, having reached out to Rivers upon his draft by the Colts, and subsequently visiting Rivers’ residence to analyze the Colts’ strategic manual collaboratively. Leonard is confident in Rivers’ throwing capabilities, having engaged in competitive target practice with him during the spring. Furthermore, Leonard perceives Rivers as exceptionally competitive, recalling how Rivers would voice complaints hours later if Leonard outperformed him in sprints or throws while moving.
“Should I have bested him on any given day, he would transmit a voice message to me at 11 p.m., asserting that I had unfairly manipulated the conditions or chosen an inequitable exercise,” Leonard shared on Wednesday. “Therefore, yes, I was aware his ambition remained. Yet, it remains astonishing.
“Its astonishing nature is as profound for me as it is for anyone else.”
Rivers returns to the Colts after a five-year hiatus from his seventeen-season professional career. Throughout his career, Rivers achieved victory in 134 out of 240 regular-season contests, completing 64.9% of his throws for a total of 63,440 yards, 421 scoring passes, and 209 turnovers.
His previous professional football involvement was with the Colts in 2020, following sixteen years spent with the Chargers. Rivers connected on 68% of his throws for 24 scoring plays and 11 turnovers, aiding the Colts’ progression to the postseason.
He did not passively await the re-emergence of such a prospect.
“Undoubtedly, I harbored no true expectation of resuming play,” Rivers articulated. “I had largely accepted that period of my life had concluded. Yet, a particular aspect of this proposition stimulated my interest. It resembles those instances where an opening appears, and one must choose to either step forward to ascertain their capability or retreat.
“I am, of course, cognizant of the inherent hazards or potential outcomes. However, the sole method of discovery is to pursue the endeavor. I perceived it almost as a boon, an additional chance to compete and perform freely alongside teammates in the sport I cherish, fulfilling a lifelong aspiration. There’s a possibility of gaining some additional playing time. Consequently, I maintained this straightforward perspective. And here I am.”
Can the Colts Achieve Significant Impact with Rivers?
Rivers’ physical readiness and agility within the pocket will pose the primary concerns, notwithstanding that maneuverability was not the paramount attribute underlying his enduring NFL achievements.
Acquiring proficiency in the strategic blueprint, according to all reports, does not appear to be an issue.
Rivers not only operated within this tactical framework since his time with the Chargers, which encompassed four years under Steichen as quarterbacks coach and later as interim offensive coordinator, but he also instructed his son Gunnar’s high school squad this season utilizing the identical playbook. He and Steichen have discussed strategies and their effectiveness during the season. Both Steichen and Rivers believe that the mental adjustment is achievable.
“Last night, I shared a play from the strategy sheet with Gunnar, and he responded, ‘Wow, because we executed that exact play two weeks prior in our semifinal match,’” Rivers recounted. “Do you understand? So that aspect is favorable…”
“It has undeniably been an intense 48-hour period, I admit. However, with every passing moment, my assurance steadily grows.”
Will mere self-assurance prove adequate? Rivers is not an anomaly in returning to play after a hiatus, although the specific situations have differed. The Browns advanced to the postseason in 2023 after bringing Joe Flacco out of retirement in December — yet Flacco had been absent from the sport for 11 months, not 59. Some athletes have sustained injuries following abrupt comebacks, such as safety Eric Weddle experiencing a pectoral tear during the 2021 Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams, and Darren Waller sustaining a similar pectoral injury earlier this season (Waller has since returned from the injured list).
Rivers disclosed that he and his relatives harbor a degree of apprehension. However, despite these misgivings, he maintains that football inherently carries a risk of injury, irrespective of age or career phase. The Colts possess recent reminders of this reality.
“One never wishes for or anticipates such an event to occur,” Rivers commented. “Nonetheless, if such an incident transpires, I would have ample time for recuperation, that much is certain.”
Conversely, the Colts perceive a diminishing timeframe for their postseason aspirations, which they reinforced through the trade-deadline acquisition of cornerback Sauce Gardner. Indianapolis seeks to capitalize on a highly competitive AFC division, especially in a season where Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs appear poised to interrupt their seven-year consistent streak of not only playoff appearances but also AFC championship game berths.
Any quarterback capable of assisting Indianapolis in pursuing that objective is embraced, starting with upcoming competitions against the two leading defensive units in terms of points allowed: the Seahawks (17.4 points per game) and the Houston Texans (16.0).
The Colts’ prospects for reaching the postseason might depend significantly on Rivers’ capabilities.
Subsequent to an 8-2 beginning that included victories against contemporary playoff hopefuls like the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers, a sequence of three consecutive defeats has ensued.
A defeat to the Jaguars last week removed the Colts from playoff contention, positioning their 8-5 standing as eighth in the AFC and third within the AFC South, trailing the 9-4 Jaguars and 8-5 Texans (the Texans held the head-to-head advantage over the Colts, securing the tiebreaker).
According to Next Gen Stats, the Colts presently possess a 26% probability of securing a playoff spot. Should they overcome the Seattle Seahawks this upcoming weekend, that likelihood escalates to 50%, based on Next Gen Stat’s predictive model.
Given this potential benefit, Rivers is prepared to wager on his physical condition and accept a five-year deferral of his Pro Football Hall of Fame eligibility (Rivers is a semifinalist for the 2026 class; however, his nomination will be postponed by five years if he participates in competitive play).
He could linger in uncertainty regarding his capabilities. Alternatively, he might seize the opportunity.
“The simplest method to circumvent all potential negative outcomes is to remain inactive,” Rivers stated. “Conversely, the sole means to ascertain, ‘Am I still capable?’ is to attempt it.”
“There is an inherent correctness in my return to this facility. And I am simply appreciative.”
