Colts Explore Surprise Reunion With 44-Year-Old Philip Rivers

The Indianapolis Colts may be turning to a familiar face as their quarterback room keeps getting thinner. According to a report from Sports Illustrated, eight-time Pro Bowler Philip Rivers spent part of his 44th birthday working out for the team on Monday, opening the door to a possible comeback nearly four years after his last NFL snap.

The Colts didn’t bring Philip Rivers in just for nostalgia. With three quarterbacks dealing with injuries, the team is considering adding him to the practice squad as insurance. Rivers last played in 2020 — his lone season in Indianapolis — before retiring and stepping into a high school coaching career.

The team’s current problems started Sunday in a 36–19 loss to Jacksonville, when Daniel Jones suffered a torn Achilles that ended his impressive rebound season. Rookie Riley Leonard was forced into action and is now managing a knee issue of his own. Even with the injury, Leonard is still expected to start this weekend against the Seattle Seahawks, but the Colts want protection if his condition changes during the week. That’s where Rivers could come in as a potential backup option.

The depth chart hasn’t stopped there. Former first-rounder Anthony Richardson has been sidelined since October with a broken orbital bone and still hasn’t been cleared to play. Veteran Brett Rypien is currently on the practice squad but has not been elevated.

Philip Rivers, who spent 16 seasons starring for the Chargers before his one-year stop in Indianapolis, left the NFL with some massive career numbers. He topped 4,000 passing yards in 12 of his final 13 seasons and helped lead the Colts to an 11–5 record in 2020, throwing 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. His résumé places him seventh all-time in passing yards (63,440) and sixth in touchdown passes (421). He’s also a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026.

There’s one unusual wrinkle: if Indianapolis signs Philip Rivers to the active roster, his Hall of Fame clock resets, pushing back his eligibility another five years. Signing him to the practice squad, however, would not delay his candidacy.

Whether the Colts actually bring Philip Rivers back onto the field remains to be seen, but the idea alone shows just how chaotic their quarterback situation has become — and how far the team is willing to go to stabilize it.

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