Colts To Start Philip Rivers In Week 17
Fans of Philip Rivers‘ comeback story will have at least one more chance to observe it. The Colts’ Week 16 loss has all but buried them in the playoff race, but Shane Steichen will not turn to one of his younger passers for Week 17.
Rivers will start against the Jaguars on Sunday, the third-year HC said (via ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler). Sixth-round rookie Riley Leonard is a healthy option on Indianapolis’ bench, and Anthony Richardson is in the IR-return window. It is not known if Richardson will return this season (or play for the Colts again), but Leonard is signed through the 2028 season.
Tied to the veteran minimum, Rivers submitted impressive work against the 49ers — all things considered — and finished 23 of 35 for 277 yards and two touchdowns. While the 44-year-old QB also threw a pick-six to help San Francisco to a blowout win, this is already one of the most memorable comebacks in modern sports history.
A national audience observed Rivers’ form Monday, and he had the Colts in an early shootout with the favored 49ers. Finding Alec Pierce for two touchdowns early, Rivers had surpassed his Seahawks showing for yardage in the first quarter. The 49ers largely bottled up Jonathan Taylor, leaving Rivers to do more work. Although deep shots did not work out for the recently unretired Rivers, he made plenty happen on shorter throws.
This Rivers human interest story notwithstanding, the Colts are passing up a chance to look at Leonard as a starter here. While it is understandable Steichen will start Rivers while the team is still standing in the playoff race, ESPN’s FPI gives Indianapolis a 2% chance to make the postseason.
Leonard should remain in Indy’s plans as a backup option for 2026; Richardson’s path is cloudier. The Colts parked the former No. 4 overall pick on the bench throughout Daniel Jones‘ healthy stretch this season, after the two had competed for the job. Jones winning the camp competition did not go over too well with Richardson in the first place. The erratic Florida product later suffered an orbital fracture in a freak locker-room accident. While Richardson is back at practice, Rivers starting again does not point to an activation from IR this week. If Richardson is activated for Week 18, who the Colts turn to in what could be a meaningless game will still bring intrigue.
If the Colts are eliminated, Steichen would presumably give stronger consideration to starting Leonard or Richardson in Week 18. Rivers, who had said he had not given strong consideration to an unretirement in a few years, all but certainly has two games remaining as a Colt. He has delayed his Hall of Fame clock by five years. While the former Chargers mainstay is not a lock to reach Canton, he has certainly tacked on a memorable ending — and at least three TD passes — to an 18-year career.
Philip Rivers Tied To Vet-Minimum Salary
When the Browns added Joe Flacco late in the 2023 season, he began on the team’s practice squad before bumping up to the active roster. The journeyman also played for more than the prorated veteran minimum.
Once signed from the Cleveland’s P-squad, Flacco was attached to a one-year, $2.2MM deal. Philip Rivers is on no special arrangement as an emergency starting quarterback. The unretired passer is tied to the veteran minimum for what is expected to be a short second stint with the Colts, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio notes.
The vet minimum for players with more than seven years of service time is $1.26MM. With Rivers set to be on the Colts’ roster for four games (in all likelihood), he will earn $279K for his Indianapolis stay.
He last played for $25MM in Indy, reuniting with Frank Reich as a free agent. That AAV matched Tom Brady‘s Buccaneers number in 2020. Rivers walked away following his age-38 season, leaving the Colts to try the trade route (Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan) before what appears to be a whiff via the draft (Anthony Richardson). During a first career chapter that presents a solid Hall of Fame case, Rivers collected more than $242MM.
Richardson, whose fully guaranteed rookie deal ($33.99MM) runs through the 2026 season, is in the IR-return window. Rivers will remain the Colts’ starter in Week 16, however. With the team hosting the 49ers on Monday night, a national audience will observe the 44-year-old passer’s effort to keep the Colts (8-6) in the playoff race.
In a gutsy effort against the Seahawks, Rivers added a touchdown pass to his career total. That number now stands at 422 — sixth in NFL history. Although Matthew Stafford sits in ninth, with Dan Marino (420) and Ben Roethlisberger (418) between he and Rivers, the MVP favorite has a chance to pass the former Chargers standout this season. That will depend on how Rivers fares against the 49ers and whether Shane Steichen turns to Richardson or Riley Leonard — a player who should be considered more likely than Richardson to be on the 2026 roster — over the final two weeks.
Shane Steichen Consulted Colts Veterans On Philip Rivers; Latest On Anthony Richardson’s Trade Value
Double-digit underdogs in Seattle, the Colts delivered a surprising effort in a close loss. Despite Philip Rivers being out of football since the 2020 season, he reemerged to submit a capable performance — all things considered — against one of the NFL’s best defenses.
The Colts opted for Rivers over rookie Riley Leonard against the Seahawks, and they will start him against the 49ers on Monday night. Rivers’ workout came as a shock to most, given his time away from the game, and the plan was radical enough Shane Steichen consulted some veterans on his roster before signing him to the practice squad, ESPN.com’s Stephen Holder notes.
Mo Alie-Cox was among those brought in during the seminal player meeting. The veteran tight end is among the 14 players still with the Colts from the 2020 season. That is an unusually high number of vets still with the team from 2020, but as we covered in an October Trade Rumors Front Office piece, the Colts have clung to this core in hopes a quarterback would finally arrive and justify the assembly of a talented roster. When it looked like Daniel Jones had become that player, he ran into two leg injuries — the second an Achilles tear. This ushered in the Rivers Hail Mary, one that has delayed the now-18-year veteran’s Hall of Fame clock by five years.
On offense, the Colts also have Quenton Nelson, Braden Smith, Jonathan Taylor and Michael Pittman Jr. from Rivers’ 2020 season in Indianapolis. Rivers ran the offense effectively in Seattle, going 18-for-27 for 120 yards and a touchdown pass — to Josh Downs — in the 18-16 loss. Rivers operated as an inspirational figure of sorts due to his stature in the game and long absence, and it will be interesting to see how the Colts proceed with Anthony Richardson down the stretch.
Steichen and Rivers communicated regularly about the Colts, as the two had worked together for many years with the Chargers. The 44-year-old’s knowledge of Steichen’s system played the lead role in him being summoned for this unlikely opportunity. Considering Richardson’s status as a demoted player who has drawn maturity concerns, it would be interesting to see Rivers benched as the season wanes. Also worth considering is Richardson’s future in Indianapolis.
It is not yet known if the Colts will start Richardson’s IR-return clock this week, but it is in play after a broken orbital bone sidelined the struggling prospect in October. Indianapolis does not seem to have Richardson in its long-term plans any longer, seeing as a spree of Jones extension rumors emerged before (and after) his injury. Jones being a re-up target even after his Achilles tear is interesting when considering how poorly his Giants re-signing went, but the Colts trading two first-rounders for Sauce Gardner leaves them with limited options. As the team’s Jones plan remains, it would appear Richardson is set to head elsewhere in 2026.
The Colts could have the option of showcasing Richardson for a potential trade late this season or bubble-wrapping a player who brought tremendous accuracy concerns during his first two seasons. If/when Richardson is put on the market, evaluators point to the Colts not being able to obtain more than a Day 3 pick.
Three NFL staffers tabbed the former No. 4 overall draftee as being worth a fourth-round pick, per Yahoo.com’s Charles Robinson, as they liken this situation to the 49ers’ Trey Lance decision. The overdrafted Lance fetched a fourth from the Cowboys in 2023.
Indianapolis has fallen to 8-6; a loss to the favored 49ers would further dim playoff hopes that once appeared bright. The Colts turning to Leonard — who is signed through 2027 — may make more sense than pivoting to Richardson. But the talented but erratic QB remains in the picture for the time being. It will be interesting to see if Rivers stays in the QB1 role in Week 17.
Colts To Start QB Philip Rivers In Week 16; Latest On Anthony Richardson
Philip Rivers and the Colts nearly managed an upset win yesterday. The recently unretired passer will receive at least one more look atop the depth chart.
To little surprise, head coach Shane Steichen confirmed on Monday that Rivers will start in Week 16 against the 49ers. The 44-year-old returned to the NFL five years after his retirement to fill in for Daniel Jones. With Jones recovering from a torn Achilles and rookie Riley Leonard dealing with a PCL sprain, Rivers could finish the year in the QB1 spot. Anthony Richardson could be nearing a return, however.
At the time Rivers signed with the Colts, Richardson had yet to be cleared for football activities. That has now changed, though, as Mike Chappell of Fox59 reports. The former No. 4 pick has been on injured reserve since suffering an orbital bone fracture during warmups in October. The latest update on this situation indicated it was still unclear whether or not a return to action would take place by the end of the season.
On that note, Steichen said (via Joel A Erickson of the Indy Star) it is yet to be determined if Richardson’s practice window will open this week. In the event that were to take place, his 21-day activation period would begin. A return to the fold in Richardson’s case would at least provide Indianapolis with a depth option under center. It could also allow the Florida product – whose future is very much in doubt – to provide a slight boost to his value late in the campaign.
For now, the Colts’ focus will be aimed at preparing Rivers for another start. Taking the reins one week after being contacted by Steichen and Co., he completed 18 of 27 pass attempts for 120 yards against the Seahawks. Indianapolis connected on a go-ahead field goal late in the fourth quarter, but Seattle managed to match it moments later. Rivers then threw an interception on the Colts’ final possession, ending the team’s chances of winning.
Indianapolis now sits at 8-6 as a result. With the Jaguars and Texans both winning yesterday, top spot in the AFC South is increasingly getting out of reach. The Chargers and Bills also won in Week 15, meaning a wild-card berth will challenging to attain as well. In any case, Rivers will look to build off his performance from yesterday as the Colts contemplate their options under center.
Colts QB Philip Rivers Expected To Start In Week 15
Quarterback Philip Rivers shockingly ended his retirement this week to rejoin the Colts on a practice squad deal. After the 44-year-old showed well in practice, the Colts signed him to their active roster on Saturday. The move put an end to his 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame candidacy. A semifinalist before returning to Indianapolis, Rivers will have to wait until 2031 to regain eligibility for enshrinement.
The Colts have not officially named Rivers as their starter for Week 15. He will indeed get the nod, though, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports.
Rivers, who has spent most of his career with the Chargers, is set to take the reins for the first time since he quarterbacked the Colts to the playoffs during the 2020 season. His most recent start came on Jan. 9, 2021, in a wild-card round loss in Buffalo.
Exactly 1,800 days later (h/t: Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports), Rivers will face another significant test on the road against the 10-3 Seahawks and their second-ranked scoring defense on Sunday. No QB 40 or older has experienced that large of a gap between games, Jones notes.
Nobody envisioned a Rivers reunion taking place at the beginning of the week. However, the Colts are in desperation mode after No. 1 quarterback Daniel Jones tore his Achilles in a loss to the Jaguars last Sunday. After a 7-1 start, the Colts’ latest defeat dropped them to 8-5. They’ve spiraled from first place in the AFC to eighth over the past month and a half. They’ll pay Rivers, who has earned $242MM in the NFL, the prorated veteran minimum, per Mike Chappell of FOX59.
Thanks to Rivers’ familiarity with head coach Shane Steichen and their offense, the Colts have more confidence in the eight-time Pro Bowler running the show than their other options. Rookie Riley Leonard, a sixth-round pick from Notre Dame, may have been in line for his first career start had Rivers stayed retired. Leonard sprained his PCL in Jacksonville, but he’s now healthy. He joined Rivers in taking first-team practice reps this week. Journeyman backup Brett Rypien is also in the fold.
Already among the league’s least mobile QBs before his initial retirement, Rivers will become the sixth signal-caller to play at 44-plus, Mike Chappell of FOX59 points out. The group currently consists of George Blanda, Steve DeBerg, Warren Moon, Vinny Testaverde, and Tom Brady.
Rivers hopes to join Testaverde and Brady as passers to win at least one game at his age, though the Colts are staring down a brutal season-ending slate. Rivers helping the Colts rally for a playoff berth would make for an incredible story, but with the Seahawks, 49ers, Jaguars, and Texans left on their schedule, the odds are heavily against it.
Colts Sign QB Philip Rivers To Active Roster
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.
Philip Rivers Addresses Colts Return; Latest On Riley Leonard
Philip Rivers has not played since a narrow Colts wild-card loss to the Bills in January 2021. That ended a one-and-done stint with Indianapolis, and Rivers’ retirement accelerated the franchise’s post-Andrew Luck quarterback carousel. Somehow, Rivers is coming back to the Colts after nearly five years away, being signed to the team’s practice squad following a workout.
Despite the QB’s absence, the Colts have a high number of players (14) still around from his 2020 season in town. The Colts have hung onto the core of their team despite having missed every playoff bracket since Rivers’ first stint ended, but Daniel Jones‘ Achilles tear deals what could be a crippling blow to that nucleus’ chances of playing in another postseason game. ESPN’s Football Power Index gives the Colts a 26% chance to make the playoffs. They have gone to a historically interesting place to increase those odds.
[RELATED: Anthony Richardson Uncertain To Return From IR This Season]
Following Jones’ injury, Rivers — who turned 44 on Monday — said he wondered if Shane Steichen would call on him in this emergency circumstance. Steichen, who is four years younger than the Colts’ most recent QB signing, was with the Chargers from 2014-20. This involved a four-year overlap as QBs coach and part of the 2019 season as the Bolts’ interim OC. Rivers being close with Steichen and GM Chris Ballard, who is still in place from when he played on a one-year, $25MM deal, helped make this improbable return happen.
Steichen called Rivers on Sunday to discuss a comeback. This was not the first time Rivers was contacted about a comeback. As our Ben Levine reminded Monday, the 49ers would have started him in Super Bowl LVII had they made it past the favored Eagles following Brock Purdy‘s UCL tear.
Kyle Shanahan confirmed Wednesday (via the San Jose Mercury News’ Cam Inman) he talked with Rivers after Jimmy Garoppolo‘s December 2022 foot fracture, but the coach mentioned the team felt good about Purdy — then a rookie, the 2022 Mr. Irrelevant draftee — so it stood down on a signing. Had San Francisco made the Super Bowl that year, though, Rivers would have started. A Saints 2021 comeback also floated as a possibility, as Jameis Winston had torn an ACL.
Those overtures made a bit more sense than this one, since Rivers has been out of the game so long. The 2004 draftee said (via ESPN.com’s Stephen Holder) he discussed the comeback with his wife and a few associates before deciding to give it a try.
“[Football] is a game I love to play, a game that I thought I was done playing. Certainly, I wasn’t really hanging on to any hope of playing again,” Rivers said. “I kind of thought that ship had sailed. But something about it excited me. And it’s kind of one of those deals; the door opens and you can either walk through it and find out if you can do it or run from it.”
While not a Hall of Fame lock, Rivers is in his first year of eligibility; he was named a semifinalist for the 2026 class recently. This reemergence will delay his potential induction by at least five years. Drew Brees, the quarterback Rivers replaced in San Diego, will undoubtedly be enshrined this year after retiring in January 2021.
“I’d not given any thought of actually playing again until about 48 hours ago, to be honest with you, but this wasn’t just any place or any coach. It’s not like, ‘Oh, shoot, I’ll see what happens in the league and see if I can get ready,’” Rivers said, via the Indianapolis Star’s Nathan Brown. “The Hall of Fame is a real honor. To be mentioned with those other 25 guys, but I’m not holding my breath on that.
“And I hadn’t been counting down the years, with all respect to the Hall. If one day I can be part of that group, it would be special – no doubt about it. But the extension of that time, if that comes to be, is not a factor in my decision.”
This Rivers comeback even surpasses the duration of ex-starter Steve DeBerg‘s in the 1990s; DeBerg had retired following the 1993 season, only to be asked back for a 1998 return — also at age 44. DeBerg, however, served as Chris Chandler‘s Falcons backup that year. He made one start — against the Bill Parcells– and Bill Belichick-coached Jets — that ended with a 28-3 Jets win. Rivers’ reemergence is obviously a higher-profile transaction, and Steichen confirmed it could mean a Week 15 starting assignment against a 10-3 Seahawks team.
Steichen did not slam the door on Rivers playing even if Riley Leonard is healthy enough to go. Leonard, who suffered a PCL sprain upon relieving Jones, practiced fully today, but Holder points to Rivers being the more likely Indy starter against a high-end Seattle defense.
Rivers has considerable familiarity with Steichen’s offense, right down to using a version of it at St. Michael Catholic High (Fairhope, Ala.). That influenced his decision to return, and the six-year overlap with Steichen in San Diego and Los Angeles is poised to give the third-year Indianapolis HC a memorable decision.
Rivers is an eight-time Pro Bowler who led the Colts to an 11-5 season under Frank Reich, throwing 24 touchdown passes compared to 11 interceptions. After a down 2019, that 2020 season may play a key role in Rivers’ Hall of Fame case. It is highly unlikely this 2025 cameo will, but it certainly promises to be among the most memorable comebacks in NFL history.
“I’m not here to stinking save the year or be a hero by any means,” Rivers said, via Yahoo’s Jori Epstein. “We got to stinking run the crap out of the football and play defense and do all those things. So if that comes to be, and I’m the one that’s out there, I’m not here to try to save the day. I’m going to know where I’m limited. And as we go, it will get better, if that’s the route we end up going.”
Riley Leonard Dealing With PCL Sprain, ‘Very Real Chance’ Philip Rivers Starts For Colts
DECEMBER 10: Leonard will practice on Wednesday, according to Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star. The Colts will decide their starter by the end of the week, Erickson adds.
DECEMBER 9: The Colts’ quarterback situation remains in flux after a season-ending injury to quarterback Daniel Jones.
Riley Leonard, who finished Sunday’s game, is dealing with a Grade 1 PCL sprain, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. His status will be updated on Wednesday when the Colts release their first injury report of Week 15. That could position Philip Rivers to start within a week of re-signing in Indianapolis.
With Leonard considered day-to-day, there is a “very real chance” that Rivers starts for Indianapolis in Week 15, Rapoport added later in the day. His Monday night workout showed that he still can pass the football, but his conditioning may not be game-ready quiet yet, according to ESPN’s Eric Holder.
The Colts may have been planning to bring Rivers in regardless of Leonard’s injury, but it certainly has raised the urgency for the team to add another quarterback, especially one that could come in and play right away. Rivers is very familiar with Colts head coach Shane Steichen after spending six seasons together with the Chargers. Steichen was the team’s quarterbacks coach for four years while Rivers was the starter. Their relationship played a role in this latest reunion, per Holder.
And despite not playing in the last few years, Rivers still has a deep understanding of the Colts’ offensive scheme. After retiring, he took over as the head football coach at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama. He has been running a version of Steichen’s offense, per CBS Sports’ J.J. Watt, with the two discussing it weekly.
This is not the only time that Rivers has considered coming out of retirement with other quarterback situations occasionally stirring some conversations, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, but none have ever made enough sense to actually pull the trigger. His past relationship with Steichen and the Colts clearly make this a different situation.
Rivers will have a short week to get into playing shape and build chemistry with his new teammates, though he has already played with a few. Left guard Quenton Nelson and right tackle Braden Smith blocked for Rivers in 2020; also in that offense were then-rookies Jonathan Taylor and Michael Pittman.
Colts Place Charvarius Ward On IR, Announce Philip Rivers Signing
The Colts have placed cornerback Charvarius Ward on IR for the second time this season and announced the signing of quarterback Philip Rivers to their practice squad. The team also signed quarterback Brett Rypien and kicker Blake Grupe from its practice squad to its 53-man roster.
With four games remaining, Ward’s regular season is over as a result of his third concussion of 2025. He may have a chance to return if the Colts qualify for the playoffs, but the club is on the outside of the bracket heading into Week 15. Once 7-1, the Colts have fallen to 8-5.
Ward, a former Chief and 49er, joined the Colts on a three-year deal worth up to $60MM last March. The move has paid off when Ward has been healthy enough to play. The 29-year-old has totaled 25 tackles and seven passes defensed in seven games (all starts), and Pro Football Focus ranks him as the sixth-best cornerback of 2025.
Ward’s latest concussion means the Colts will have to go without their top two cornerbacks for at least some portion of their four-game closing stretch. The team took an enormous gamble at the Nov. 4 trade deadline in sending two first-round picks and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell to the Jets for star corner Sauce Gardner.
Quarterback Daniel Jones was healthy and enjoying a career season around the deadline, leading general manager Chris Ballard to take a home run swing for Gardner. Things have not gone according to plan since then. Jones is now done for the season after tearing his Achilles in a loss to the Jaguars last Sunday. The 44-year-old Rivers, who retired after 2020, may replace Jones down the stretch in a last-ditch effort to save the Colts’ season.
Before Jones went down for the year, Gardner strained his calf in his third game as a Colt, a Week 13 loss to the Texans. Gardner missed Week 14, and he’s likely to sit out again this Sunday in Seattle, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. At the earliest, Gardner could return Week 16 against the 49ers.
With Ward out of commission and the Colts waiting for Gardner to come back, they’re down to Kenny Moore, Jaylon Jones, Mekhi Blackmon, Johnathan Edwards, and Cameron Mitchell at corner. It’s a harsh development ahead of a meeting with the 10-3 Seahawks, who boast the NFL’s ninth-ranked passing attack. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, easily the league leader in receiving yards, won’t have to contend with Ward or Gardner.
Turning back to the offensive side, Rypien could at least serve as a backup option this week. Sixth-round rookie Riley Leonard is dealing with a PCL sprain that could force him to miss the game. Assuming the Colts elevate Rivers from their practice squad, Leonard’s absence would leave him and Rypien as the team’s choices under center. The 29-year-old Rypien, who joined the Colts’ taxi squad in mid-October, has combined for 17 appearances and six starts with the Broncos, Rams, and Bengals.
Grupe, a Dec. 2 practice squad pickup, has taken over at kicker since the Colts cut Michael Badgley after Week 13. Despite sloppy conditions in Jacksonville, Grupe hit both of his field goal attempts and converted his lone extra point last Sunday. Grupe, who began 2025 with the Saints, has gone 20 of 28 on field goals and 16 for 16 on PATs in 12 games this year.
Colts, QB Philip Rivers Agree To Deal
After a successful workout, Philip Rivers has lined up an unexpected comeback. The 44-year-old quarterback is set to finish the 2025 season with the Colts.
Team and player agreed to a practice squad deal on Tuesday, as first reported by Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Indianapolis thus has an experienced (to say the least) option at the quarterback spot as the team looks to reach the playoffs. This move comes in the aftermath of Daniel Jones suffering an Achilles tear.
[RELATED: Riley Leonard Injury Could Move Rivers To Week 15 Start]
Rivers’ workout took place last night, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes. He adds things went well, which has of course been confirmed by today’s signing. As the Colts plan their immediate future under center, they could find themselves relying on a passer whose last NFL game was played on January 9, 2021 relatively soon. Of course, that final Rivers contest came as a member of the Colts.
Following a storied Chargers career (which included time spent with current Colts head coach Shane Steichen), the eight-time Pro Bowler played his last NFL campaign with Indianapolis. That 2020 season produced a record of 11-5 and it marked the last time the Colts made the playoffs. If another postseason berth is to be possible this time around, Rivers could find himself playing a part.
Jones – added this past spring on a one-year free agent deal – enjoyed career highs in several categories prior to going down. A long-term Colts commitment may well have been on the horizon, but as his attention turns to recovery it remains to be seen if that will still come to bear. Meanwhile, backup Anthony Richardson is still on IR as he continues to deal with an orbital bone fracture. This Rivers signing is a strong indication Indianapolis feels Richardson will not be cleared to return any time soon.
That leaves Leonard and practice squad veteran Brett Rypien as the Colts’ other QB options. The team could stick with Leonard for at least one start, but with a record of 8-5 there is little (if any) margin for losses over the final month of the season. Deciding Rivers – who is now a grandfather – is the best path to a playoff berth would certainly represent an interesting choice on the part of Indianapolis. At a minimum, he will make for a notable taxi squad addition.
Whether or not the former NFL passing leader finds his way onto the active roster will be worth monitoring for a number of reasons. Rivers is currently in his first year of eligibility for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and he is among the 26 semifinalists for the 2026 class. As Rapoport notes, that will not change if Rivers remains on the practice squad. Should a promotion to the active roster take place, however, his five-year waiting period for HOF eligibility will reset. That will be the case regardless of if Rivers sees any playing time or not.
The Colts face a daunting schedule over the final stretch, with games remaining against the Seahawks, 49ers, Jaguars and Texans. Finding offensive success against each of those opponents will be challenging, but a comeback attempt from an unlikely passer could become part of Indianapolis’ 2025 season.