INDIANAPOLIS — The Colts’ quarterback saga has taken another twist.
With starter Daniel Jones out for the season because of a torn right Achilles and backup Riley Leonard dealing with a knee injury, the Colts could, shockingly, turn to retired NFL great Philip Rivers as an emergency solution.
Indianapolis will bring in Rivers, who last played in the NFL in 2020 with the Colts, for a workout Tuesday, sources confirmed to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The Colts haven’t yet decided to sign Rivers, and Rivers has yet to determine whether he would play, a source said.
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Though it’s unclear if Rivers, who turned 44 on Monday, is in football shape after his long layoff, he would have intimate knowledge of the Colts’ offensive scheme, and his working relationship with coach Shane Steichen would be seamless. They worked closely during Steichen’s days as the Los Angeles Chargers’ offensive coordinator before Rivers’ one season with the Colts.
The Colts believe Rivers’ familiarity could give them a realistic chance to stay competitive.
He was impressive in his final season with the Colts in 2020. Indianapolis finished 11-5 with Rivers under center, making the playoffs as an AFC wild card. The Colts lost to the Buffalo Bills in a first-round game and, several weeks later, Rivers retired. No Colts team since that 2020 squad has averaged more than the 253.3 passing yards produced by Rivers.
Indianapolis won four of its last five games that season to clinch a playoff spot. And Rivers delivered throughout the season, completing 68% of his pass attempts and throwing 24 touchdown passes.
1960 Frank Tripucka, DEN2,8271987 John Reaves, TB2,1492010 Todd Bouman, JAX1,7571999 Chris Miller, DEN1,435>>Philip Rivers would be 1,800 days Sunday
The Colts’ possible signing of Rivers indicates the desperation of their desperate. Jones had been enjoying a career year in his first season in Indianapolis, but he had struggled amid a left fibula stress fracture in recent games. On Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Jones tore his right Achilles in a noncontact injury.
Leonard finished the game and was expected to fill in the rest of the season. But Steichen said Leonard, a sixth-round pick out of Notre Dame, reported an unspecified knee issue to the team’s medical staff Monday morning. A source later told ESPN’s Schefter that Leonard had a strained knee ligament and was considered week-to-week. The Colts said it was unclear whether Leonard would be available for Sunday’s road game against the Seattle Seahawks.
With former first-round pick Anthony Richardson Sr. also on injured reserve, the Colts have only journeyman quarterback Brett Rypien on their practice squad.
The Colts (8-5) are sitting just outside the AFC playoff field, losing a tiebreaker for the final spot with the Houston Texans. Indianapolis has four games remaining in the regular season, against the Seahawks, 49ers, Jaguars and Texans.
NFL Network first reported the Colts’ interest in Rivers.
