DECEMBER 13: The Colts officially signed Rivers to their active roster from their practice squad, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. They could have used practice squad elevations for the next three games – after this week’s drama, no team would dare poach him – but he seems poised to start for the rest of the season. If that is the case, adding him to the active roster now makes sense.
The move also cements one of the most ironic aspects of Rivers’ decision to come out of retirement. He was a semi-finalist to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year; now, he will not be eligible until 2031.
DECEMBER 12: Once Philip Rivers‘ deal with the Colts was officially in place, attention turned to the matter of when he would play. The now-unretired passer looks to be on course to make his NFL return this Sunday. 
Rivers has practiced each of the past two days, and ESPN’s Stephen Holder notes it is clear which quarterback the Colts are preparing to get the nod for Week 15. Barring an unforeseen development, Rivers will be in place against the Seahawks. Provided that proves to be the case, it will add further to one of the NFL’s most interesting and unexpected stories in recent memory.
Daniel Jones‘ Achilles tear ended his impressive debut season in Indianapolis and left the Colts thin on the QB depth chart. Backup Anthony Richardson remains on injured reserve, while sixth-round rookie Riley Leonard suffered a PCL sprain in Week 14 upon taking over from Jones. Brett Rypien is on the active roster after spending time on the practice squad, but Rivers is viewed as a better option for leading the Colts back into a playoff spot down the stretch.
Comebacks have been considered on more than one occasion in the 44-year-old’s case, but this is the first which has come to bear. Rivers immediately expressed interest in a second Colts stint upon being contacted by the team this past Sunday, as detailed by Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. Rivers and head coach Shane Steichen (who worked together during their shared time with the Chargers) have remained in contact since their time together ended, with the former using the latter’s offense on the high school team he coaches.
Rivers will presumably reprise his role as the head coach of his eldest son’s HS team next fall. Before that point, however, he is in line to briefly resume his NFL playing career. Doing so will restart the eight-time Pro Bowler’s five-year waiting period with respect to eligibility for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In the meantime, Rivers will aim to guide the Colts to a win against a Seahawks defense which ranks near the top of the NFL in several categories.
Indianapolis sits at 8-5, an illustration of how far the team has fallen from a hugely successful start to the campaign. With the Jaguars (9-4) and Texans (8-5) firmly in contention for the AFC South title, a home playoff game is far less certain than it once looked. Securing a wild-card spot will be a strong challenge in its own right, and if the Colts are to achieve that feat it appears Rivers will be tasked with handling QB1 duties right away.
It would be cooler if he waited until making then Hall and then came back. An active Hall of Famer.
The only time I’ve seen that was in the NHL when Gordie Howe came out of retirement to play with his sons in the WHL, then the NHL with the Hartford Whalers.
Another time was when Guy Lafleur attempted to come back with the NY Rangers, but after playing in a few games realized the game had passed him by. I’m hoping Rivers story ends more like Howe than Lafleur.
LeMieux did it too i believe
Mario Lemieux played for 5 years as both an enshrined Hall of Famer and the team’s owner.
I wonder what they’ll talk about during the broadcast.
There will be a debate on whether Rivers looks as sharp at QB as Adam Sandler and Burt Reynolds 🙂
I thought Adam Sandler was still coaching Wisconsin.
That’s a nice promotion from Waterboy…lol.
What a joke NFL QB development has become. Millions of 20-30 year old QB’s out there, and they go to a 44-year-old who hasn’t taken a snap in four years.
Hope Rivers doesn’t regret this after taking an actual hit and being driven into the turf.
I don’t think his HOF eligibility is affected unless he is signed to the 53-man roster. Even starting a game shouldn’t affect his status as long as he’s on the practice squad.
There seems to be some gray area there. The NFL has not indicated what would happen if he’s elevated and plays a game, but that seems like it should reset his HoF clock since he’ll technically still be active. It should be interesting…
I guess the point is moot now since they just signed him to the 53-man roster.
Can he be on the practice squad and play? Doesn’t he have to be on the 53 to take the field?
Teams can “elevate” players from the practice squad up to three times before they have to sign them to the roster.
I think you are misunderstanding. You have to be on the active roster to play in a game. Team has to add or subtract you from the active roster. Once Rivers is on the active roster, the clock for his eligibility should restart. Doesn’t even have to play.
He doesn’t have to be on the active roster, just elevated from the practice squad to play. Google the NFL’s practice squad rules. The Bills have had several players oin that protool this season (and a few more that they signed as they ran out of elevations- 3 max).
Im still waiting on the Pirates to re-sign Barry Bonds to a 1 game contract to reset his HOF availability
And undoubtedly, he’d still be their best hitter
The article spells it out. If he plays his 5 year clock restarts. In fact the 5 year clock to be eligible for the HOF starts when the player files ‘retirement’ paperwork with both the Union and the League. Once he plays in a game he needs to start the process all over again. I doubt he really cares if he has to wait or not. For Rivers it’s probably that urge to still play. He most probably misses the game and will do so until he gets blasted by a 24 year old blitzing Edge rusher who plants him into the ground. Let’s see how his body will feel on Monday morning after the game as a 44 year old, complained to how he remembers it was as a 30 year old.
Schefter just announced he’s now no longer eligible until 2031.
Dad bod activated. Kind of a shame one of his many kids is not in NFL he could have had a Griffey and LeBron thing.
What a story if his kid was a defensive lineman for the Seahawks…
Jeff Saturday, now Philip Rivers, mind as well hit up Edgerrin James, Marvin Harrison & Reggie Wayne!
I really want to watch this game but it’s not being aired in my area. This feels like a MLB team announcing a position player will be the starting pitcher for a key game. This is wild. I really would love for him to succeed, but I fear this is going to be a disaster.
Which part of the country are you in? Every CBS station along the Pacific Coast is airing Colts-Seahawks.
Arizona. I’m getting Packers v. Broncos. I’m not complaining about that, but it would be nice to watch Rivers. I guess I’ll follow the gamecast online and watch the replay when it shows up on NFL Network next week.
In Nashville, we’re stuck with Eagles-Raiders. Be cool if Pickett stuck it to them.
NFL RedZone available to you ?
I’ll be rooting for him to play well because it’d be a really great story, if he did.
I think it’ll probably be a Jake Paul/Mike Tyson scenario. It will be very evident that he should have stayed retired.
How many times does he get sacked on Sunday? I’ll say at least 5, probably only 1 is the OL’s fault.
Should be the SNF game.
National Obsession 44 year old Quarterback starts for the Colts….the thing is…I think he can do it as long as his arm is good and he can take a hit….after 5 years….I am wondering….5 years is a long time….and i am impressed that he still is in shape…how did he do that?
Oh man! Colts are REALLY desperate here….couldn’t find a younger, active QB off someone’s practice squad?????