In the wake of Daniel Jones‘ season-ending Achilles injury in Week 14, the Colts stunningly lured 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers out of retirement on Tuesday. The Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalist wasn’t the only retired signal-caller the Colts showed interest in signing. The team also contacted Derek Carr, Armando Salguero of OutKick reports.
At 34, Carr would have given the Colts a much younger option than Rivers. Carr also isn’t nearly as far removed from playing in the NFL as Rivers, who hung it up after the 2020 season. Carr, a four-time Pro Bowler, started in all 10 of his appearances with the Saints last year.
While battling a debilitating shoulder injury, Carr decided to call it a career in May. The Saints announced then that Carr had “significant degenerative changes to his rotator cuff.”
Seven months later, it’s unclear if Carr is even healthy enough to resume his career. However, as of September, Carr hadn’t closed the door on a potential NFL return. At least two teams have mulled adding him this year. Before acquiring Joe Flacco from the Browns in early October, the Bengals considered Carr as a potential substitute for the then-injured Joe Burrow.
With the Nov. 4 trade deadline still weeks away at the time, the Bengals could have swung a deal with New Orleans for Carr. The fact that the deadline has passed and the Saints still own Carr’s rights complicates matters. Even if Carr is motivated to play, he can’t sign with the Colts or anyone else unless the Saints release him from the reserve/retired list. Cutting Carr at this stage of the season would subject him to waivers. The Colts wouldn’t have first dibs on Carr in that scenario.
Carr to the Colts will go down as an interesting what-if. Should the Colts elevate Rivers from their practice squad, it would make them one of the league’s most fascinating teams to watch down the stretch. Having fallen to 8-5 since a 7-1 start, the Colts are now sitting outside of the AFC playoff picture after a brief run as the top seed in the conference.
With Jones and backups Anthony Richardson and Riley Leonard all injured, Rivers may step in for part or all of an intimidating four-game stretch. The Colts’ remaining foes – the Seahawks, 49ers, Jaguars, and Texans – have gone a combined 36-16 this season. All hold playoff spots at the moment, and the Colts are looking up at the Jaguars (9-4) and Texans (8-5) in the AFC South.
Hmmmm
“significant degenerative changes to his rotator cuff.”
i hope carr is gonna be ok
I heard that they also called Jonny Unitas.
Hard to call him when he passed in 2002. What a QB, though!
Did they try Ben Gucci DiNucci?
Still can’t believe they went for Rivers over someone like Taylor Heinecke
I am really shocked they skipped over Tannehill
Indy should’ve signed Colin Kaepernick.
I don’t get the Heinecke angle at all. I understand that Rivers isn ‘t a long-term (or even next year) option, but he at least gives you competence and a higher ceiling for this year than anyone else available. Heinecke’s upside is basically serviceable backup.
He has played much more recently, is like 13 years younger? Something like that. Sure a Rivers has a higher upside when he retired maybe but at some point you’re a 44 year old guy playing qb in the NFL. I’d bet more on history of the league and youth than age.
And don’t get me wrong I’m not sitting here advocating for Heinecke to get a starting qb job or anything I more just picked a name of someone I would have called/gambled on first before the guy who is in his mid 40s and hasn’t played since covid year.
Hard to disagree and I don’t expect Rivers to save the day, but I think he has a better shot to do it than guys that have never been able to be more than a just an ordinary (at best) back up or have struggled to find a job in the NFL. Either way, I think we’ll find out fast!
They should’ve tried Bert Jones.
That four game schedule ahead is absolutely brutal. The Colts are really going to lean extremely heavily on Taylor, but even then, those are good run defenses ahead, too.
As a sidenote…who would have thought that the key to the Colts’ playoff chances at the end of 2025 would be the health of Daniel Jones?
It was actually DeForest Buckner.
Agree. I’d seriously worry about his health facing that Texans defense that knocked Josh Allen down more than any other time in his career.
I’m actually surprised someone like Brian hoyer wasn’t called