The Colts need a quarterback and are turning to an old friend for help.
Just 24 hours after Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending Achilles tear, the Colts are planning to bring in retired, eight-time Pro Bowl quarterback Philip Rivers for a workout Tuesday and possible addition to the team's practice squad, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported Monday.
Rapoport reported Tuesday morning that Rivers' workout with Indianapolis already took place on Monday night.
Rookie Riley Leonard is expected to start in Week 15 against the Seattle Seahawks, but is also dealing with a knee injury, head coach Shane Steichen announced Monday.
Rivers played from 2004 through 2020, spending 16 seasons with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers before playing his last season for the Colts in 2020. Rivers was named as one of 26 modern-era semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026. If Rivers is signed to the Colts active roster, his Hall of Fame eligibility clock would reset and another five-year wait would ensue, NFL Network chief national reporter Steve Wyche reported. If he's only signed to the practice squad, the clock would not reset.
Rivers, who turned 44 on Monday, has a lengthy history with Steichen, who served as Rivers' quarterbacks coach with the Chargers from 2016 to 2019 and interim offensive coordinator in 2019, Rivers' final season with the Bolts.
If any free agent quarterback would know Steichen's offense and be able to hit the ground running , it's Rivers.
The question of whether he can play, however, remains unanswered. Rivers was very sharp in his final season of 2020, completing 68% of his passes for 4,169 yards, posting a 24-11 TD-INT ratio and leading the Colts to an 11-5 record and a postseason appearance, which ended in a narrow loss to the Buffalo Bills.
That was five seasons ago, though. Rivers has since spent his time with his family and coaching high school football at St. Michael Catholic in Fairhope, Alabama. Perhaps fortunately for the Colts, St. Michael's season ended in a state semifinal loss on Nov. 28, clearing Rivers' schedule to contemplate returning to an NFL field.
When it comes to veteran quarterbacks making unexpected returns from retirement, Rivers would represent a truly shocking development. The NFL world hasn't heard from him since he decided to call it a career after the 2020 season, but his skillset -- quick decision-making, accurate passing and an expert level understanding of coverages and how to dissect them -- wouldn't require him to find a fountain of youth in order to play. It's just a matter of whether his body can handle it.
Indianapolis is clearly in a dire situation following Jones' season-ending injury, turning to Notre Dame product Leonard in the short term. Kicking the tires on Rivers will undoubtedly drive headlines. But like Joe Flacco did for Cincinnati this season, Rivers could give Steichen a trusted option beyond Leonard, especially with the Colts clinging to what was once a season with endless potential.
